For centuries, its furry tail was the stuff of fairy tales on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica.

Shepherds recounted sightings of an elusive metre-long, ring-tailed feline with razor-sharp teeth that would attack ewes and goats at night.

Now, scientists believe they have finally identified the animal as an entirely new species dubbed the “cat-fox”.

"It's a wonderful discovery," said Pierre Benedetti, chief environmental technician of the National Hunting and Wildlife Office (ONCFS).

"We believe that it's a wild natural species which was known but not scientifically identified because it's an extremely inconspicuous animal with nocturnal habits,” he told AFP.

Dubbed "Ghjattu volpe” by locals and found in the island’s Asco forest, the furry creature resembles a domestic cat in many ways but has distinguishing features, including a black-tipped tail with two to four rings, "very wide" ears, short whiskers and "highly developed" canine teeth.