Creatures of myth Wiki

"It was at the games of Pompeius Magnus that the chama was first exhibited; an animal called rufius by the Gauls; having the figure of a wolf, with the spots of the pard."

Pliny the Elder, The Natural History, Chapter 28 (19):

In the older editions, the names here given to this animal were "chaus" and "ruphius;" the alteration was made by Hardouin from a MS. in the Royal Library of Paris, which he deemed of high authority, and has been adopted by all the modern editors. There is considerable doubt respecting the animal here designated by the name of "chama;" it appears to have been an inhabitant of Gaul, and in c. 34, is styled "lupus ecrvarius;" but the account does not enable us to identify it with any animal known to exist in that country.—B. It is generally supposed to have been a species of lynx.