The crocotta or corocotta, crocuta, or leucrocotta is a mythical dog-wolf of India or Aethiopia, linked to the hyena and said to be a deadly enemy of men and dogs.
Crocotta, as illustrated in a medieval bestiary
A mosaic depicting a crocotta (Greek: Κροκόττας), which in this case closely resembles a striped hyena. The mosaic in Palestrina depicts the river Nile and its fauna
Drawing collected by Felix Platter, to be used in Historiae animalium (1551–1558). Manticore and Crocotta
A crocotta, Bestiary, Royal MS 12 C XIX; (1200-1210).
The Aberdeen Bestiary is a 12th-century English illuminated manuscript bestiary that was first listed in 1542 in the inventory of the Old Royal Library at the Palace of Westminster. Due to similarities, it is often considered to be the "sister" manuscript of the Ashmole Bestiary. The connection between the ancient Greek didactic text Physiologus and similar bestiary manuscripts is also often noted. Information about the manuscript's origins and patrons are circumstantial, although the manuscript most likely originated from the 13th century and was owned by a wealthy ecclesiastical patron from north or south England. Currently, the Aberdeen Bestiary resides in the Aberdeen University Library in Scotland.
Adam naming the beasts, in an illustration from the Aberdeen Bestiary
Folio 56 Recto - Phoenix (detail)
Folio 66 Recto - Basilisk (detail)
Folio 9 Recto - Panther (detail)
