This is a submission for the Anatomically Correct Series
Residing in Japan, the Kitsune is commonly depicted as:
- looking like a fox
- having an unusually long lifespan for a fox
- have up to nine tails
- grow new tails as they get older with nine being the max (optional)
- fur become lighter as they get older
- love sweets (optional)
Given these characteristics, what species could the Kitsune have evolved from, and what evolutionary pressures would lead to such a creature?