where does a sand cat live

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Sand cats live in three distinct regions of the world: Africa’s Sahara desert, which stretches through Algeria, Niger and Morocco; throughout the Arabian peninsula; and in parts of central Asia including Turkmenistan, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Characteristics edit Sand cat in

The sand cat’s coat is a sandy, pale color similar to Isabelline, but it is considerably lighter near the base of the head, the throat, and the belly. Each eye’s outer corner to the cheeks is bordered by a thin reddish line. [3] The tail has a black tip with two or three dark rings that alternate with buff bands, and the limbs have dark brown to blackish bars. Individuals differ in their markings; some have neither stripes nor spots, some have light spots, and some have both. [5] Its head is sandy brown. The nose is blackish, and the big, greenish-yellow eyes have a white ring around them. [22] It has up to eight centimeters (3 1 in) long. [6] The tips of its ears are black, with a tawny base. Its ear canal is roughly twice as large as a domestic cat’s, but its outer ear is similar to that of a domestic cat. Compared to a domestic cat, the acoustic input-admittance is roughly five times higher. Furthermore, the sand cat’s hearing sensitivity is roughly 8 dB higher than a domestic cat’s. [23].

The sand cat’s thick, long winter coat in Central Asia can have hairs as long as 51 mm (2 in). Its forelimbs have short, sharp claws, and its hind feet have small, blunt claws. [24] A thick layer of fur shields its paw undersides from extremely cold temperatures. [5] Its long hairs between its toes form a fur cushion over the foot pads, which acts as insulation when it moves across hot sand. Because of this characteristic, the cat’s footprints are hazy and challenging to locate. [25].

The flat, broad head, short legs, and relatively long tail (23–31 cm) are the characteristics of the sand cat. 1–12. 2 in). It stands 24–36 cm (9. 4–14. 2 in) at the shoulder and weighs 1. 5–3. 4 kg (3. 3–7. 5 lb). The head-and-body length ranges from 39–52 cm (15–20 in). The 5–7 cm (2. 0–2. 8 in) long and positioned low, giving the head a wide, level appearance. [11].

Behaviour and ecology edit

Except for mating season and when a female has kittens, sand cats live alone. [22] During mating season, in particular, it produces short, high-pitched, loud rasping noises. Its vocalizations are similar to those of the domestic cat. [13] It uses smell, scratch marks, and urine spraying as means of communication. [57] It buries its feces and covers it with sand. [27].

It has a unique gait, running quickly and putting its belly close to the ground while making sporadic leaps. It can run at speeds of thirty to forty kilometers per hour (19 to 25 miles per hour) and can do sudden acceleration. [27] In Israel, four sand cats with radio collars traveled great distances, covering 5–10 km (3 1–6. 2 mi) in a single night. They typically hunted and traveled an average of five miles during the night. 4 km (3. 4 mi). They retired underground at first light and spent the day in the burrow. They made use of multiple burrows within their home ranges throughout the survey period. [25].

Burrows are about 1. 5 meters (4 feet 11 inches) in depth, excavated in a slightly slanted area, and typically having just one entrance, though burrows with two or three entrances have also been seen. Either gerbils or other rodents dug these burrows, or foxes or porcupines abandoned them. Sand cats are crepuscular and nocturnal during the hot season, but they spend the day in the sun in the winter. [5].

The home range of a male sand cat in Israel was 16 km2 (6 2 sq mi). [58] In Morocco, a male sand cat travelled 14. 1 km (8. 8 mi) in 30 hours. A female sand cat moved in an area of 13. 4 km2 (5. In six days, 2 sq mi) were covered by two males, whose home ranges were 21 8 and 35. 3 km2 (8. 4 and 13. 6 sq mi). [31] A number of sand cats were spotted sleeping in brown-necked raven nests in Moroccan Sahara umbrella thorn acacia trees in 2018. [59].

Sand Cat Distribution in Africa

Sand Cats occur in the desert habitats in the northern and western regions of Africa (IUCN Red List):

North Africa: Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Morocco, Sudan, Western Sahara

West Africa: Mali, Mauritania, Niger

FAQ

What is the habitat of a cat?

Living in a home or apartment is the most common living habitat for cats. It provides them with a safe and controlled environment, protection from extreme weather conditions, and access to food and water. Indoor cats also have a longer lifespan due to less exposure to diseases and injuries.

Where did the sand cat come from?

The first sand cat known to scientists was discovered in the Algerian Sahara and described in 1858. To date, it has been recorded in several disjunct locations in Western Sahara, Morocco, Algeria, Niger, Chad, Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East.

Are there any sand cats left in the world?

Their numbers in the wild are estimated at about 27,200. They are not considered an endangered species because they are found in many countries over a wide geographical area. What does a sand cat eat?

How rare is a sand cat?

According to the IUCN Red List, there are relatively few records of the Sand cat, and the species is often reported as rare. The total population size of the Sand cat is conservatively estimated at 27,264 mature individuals. It is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the list of threatened species.