The Sand Cat by Roy Mathur

The Sand Cat by Roy Mathur

`Kingdom`	`Animalia`
`Phylum`	`Chordata`
`Class`	`Mammalia`
`Order`	`Carnivora`
`Family`	`Felidae`
`Genus`	`Felis`
`Species`	`Felis margarita`
`Sub Species`	`Felis margarita margarita in the Sahara`
	`Felis margarita thinobia in Turkestan`
	`Felis margarita scheffeli in Pakistan`
	`Felis margarita harrisoni in Arabia and Jordan`
`Common Name`	`sand cat or sand dune cat`

Identification The species was identified by French man Captain Victor Loche. Loche (1806-1863) was a soldier, naturalist and author of Histoire naturelle des mammifères de l'Algérie in 1867 and Histoire naturelle des Oiseaux de l'Algerie in 1867 (Wikipedia 2005). Loch discovered the species while exploring the North Sahara between 1855 and 1856. In 1858 he named the species Felis "margarita" after another famous French officer General Jean Auguste Margueritte.Distribution The sand cat, or sand dune cat, Felis margarita has currently four recognised regional subspecies- Felis margarita margarita in the Sahara, Felis margarita thinobia in Turkestan, Felis margarita scheffeli in Pakistan and Felis margarita harrisoni in Arabia and Jordan. (Kitchener 1991: 52). As its name suggests it lives in extremely arid or desert regions.
(ISEC 2001)
Appearance In appearance it is a small cat with large ears and a broad head. It has a soft, dense coat that is pale sand or grey above and paler below. A reddish streak runs from its eyes across its cheeks. The ears are reddish brown with black tips. Faint vertical stripes run down its sides with black bands around the top of its front legs. The underside is slightly darker (BBC 2005). The tail has two or three black rings towards its tip. Its foot pads are covered with a thick, hairy layer of fur to insulate it from the hot sand and also to create more surface area for a better grip on the loose sand (Kitchener 1991: 52). Although about the same size as a domestic cat, its ears seem disproportionately large. This is another adaptation to its environment used for detecting prey and, perhaps secondarily, a method of heat dissipation. (Markham 1998)
Size and Weight Their bodies are generally 42-57cm long with an added length of tail of about 26-35cm and weigh about 2-3kg (BBC 2005). In height it is c.24-30 cm (ISEC 2001). Senses The large ears mentioned before enable the sand cat to hear at a far greater range than the domestic cat. Specifically, like the serval, enlarged auditory bullae and pinnae within the ear enable the cat to hear the ultrasonic high frequency squeaks of rodents. Structural modelling of the sand cat's ear estimates an 8dB value greater than domestic cats for frequencies below 2 kHz and the increased hearing sensitivity extends its hearing range beyond domestic cat by 0.4 km at 0.5 kHz (Huang et al 2002). In other words the sand cat can hear further and at a wider range of frequencies than domestic cats. Perfect for listening for the high pitched squeaks of rodents in the desert. (Hogle 2005)
Life-Span In captivity they can live up to c.13 years (BBC 2005). Breeding 2-4 kittens (BBC 2005) and gestation lasts about 61 days. The kittens weigh about 39g at birth gain 12g/day. At about 14 days they open their eyes and start walking at 21 days (Kitchener 1991: 187). (Wolfe 2004)
Diet A study of 182 stomachs and scats in Turkmenia revealed that 65 % of stomachs contained rodents- 34% Rhombomys opimus and 19 % Meriones meridianus. The other 35% consisted of birds, reptiles and insects. In the Kyzlkum Desert and the Ust plateau of Uzbekistan, the pattern is much the same with an 88% rodent diet, mainly consisting the Great Gerbil, Rhombomys opimus which can grow in excess of 40 cm, and the jerboa, a small leaping rodent (Kitchener 1991: 121-122). As well as rodents they will also catch hares, birds and reptiles (BBC 2005). Most of the water in their diet is derived exclusively from food (BBC 2005).(Dragesco-Joffe 1998)
Behaviour Though, widespread, little is actually known of this cat. The cat is nocturnal and remain in cool self-made burrows during the day. At night they emerge to hunt using extremely acute hearing (Kitchener 1991: 52). Social Behaviour and Communication Like all cats, sand cats will rub, sniff and bite each other’s heads and bodies. This seems to have some social communication, though little understood, function. Sand cats seems to specifically target the head region- ears, nose, throat and the neck at back in their, sniffing, biting and patting activities. The pattern seems to be similar between siblings and non-relatives (Kitchener 1991: 150-151). Relationship With Man There is some limited threat from hunting for skins, but mostly they not immediately endangered (see below). Also some desert tribes regard them as sacred because, according to the Koran, they were companions of the prophet Mohammed, combined with their reputation as snake-killers. There is also good evidence of their domestication in ancient Egypt.(Griffith 2004)
Conservation Pakistani subspecies F.m.scheffeli is classified as Lower Risk on the IUCN list. Sand cats are on CITES Appendix II. They are mainly at risk due to their perceived livestock threat (BBC, 2005). Despite field research problems (see below), Jerusalem zoo reported that on May 4th, 2004 2 kittens were born in their captive breeding program- a preliminary step in returning sand cats to into the wild to bolster the wild population (Jerusalem Zoo 2004). Their predators include poisonous snakes, jackals, the larger owl species and man (Jerusalem Zoo 2004). 39 zoos in Europe, America and Asia breed Sand cats. The zoo population is approximately 115 (Kucera 1998). Research Research is difficult and in the past has been beset by various and sometimes amusing problems. Studies is Israel (in Arava, now part of Jordan) as part of a conservation project proved how difficult a field research subject these animals were. The cats cover their scat. The hairy pads of their paws left no tracks. If light was shined at them at night in an attempt to track them by catching the usual glowing reflection from feline pupils- they instinctively closed their eyes making them vanish (ISEC, 2001). The cats are also nocturnal and, as if that was not enough, they live in burrows into which they disappear into at the slightest provocation. More Pictures (copyright unknown)

Why Sand Dune Cats on an Archaeology Site? Sand cats, like archaeologists, like to dig lots of holes, though not with a trowel apparently... so it seemed like the perfect and rather distinctive name for this domain. Incidentally, the information about this fascinating species was gathered from a number of online and offline sources which are referenced below. If you have anything new to contribute such as new sources of information, latest news, research, pictures etc... please contact me and you will be fully credited below. While you are here you might also want to visit the main site. Thanks for dropping by.

Bibliography BBC (2005) BBC Science & Nature Animals Wildfacts: Sand cat, sand dune cat. [Accessed 06/10/2005] http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/24.shtml ISEC (International Society for Endangered Cats), 2001, Sand Cat, http://www.wildcatconservation.org/cats/factsheets/africa/sand/index.shtmlHuang, GT, Rosowski JJ, Ravicz ME, Peake WT (2002)Mammalian ear specializations in arid habitats: structural and functional evidence from sand cat (Felis margarita)Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology, ,Springer-Verlag GmbH, ISSN: 0340-7594 (Paper) 1432-1351 (Online),Issue: Volume 188, Number 9, Date: October 2002, Pp. 663-681. [Accessed 06/10/2005]. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12397438&dopt=Abstract Jerusalem Zoo (2004) The Sand Cat:Felis margarita>. [Accessed 06/10/2005]. http://www.jerusalemzoo.org.il/english/upload/month/sandcat.html
Kitchener, A. (1991) The Natural History of the Wildcats,UK: Christopher Helm Ltd and Cornell University Press. ISBN 0801425964 Kucera, Jaroslav (1998) Nature Bred of the Sand Cat. Brno Zoo, Czech Republic [Accessed 06/10/2005]. http://www.zoobrno.cz/english/zooreport/report009a_e.htm Wikipedia (2005) Victor Loche. [Accessed 06/10/2005] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Loche Plates Dragesco-Joffe, Alain (1998) sandcat6.jpg Felid Taxonomic Advisory Group (TAG) of the American Zoo & Aquarium Association(AZA). [Accessed 06/10/2005] http://www.felidtag.org/pages/..%5C..%5C..%5Cimages%5Csandcat6.jpg Griffith Institute (2004) gri107a.gif Ashmolean Museum Oxford, A pet cat under a chair, from Theban tomb 219, of Nebenmaet, who lived around 1250 BC. Schott photo. 8996. [Accessed 06/10/2005] http://www.ashmol.ox.ac.uk/gri/gif-files/gri-107a.gif Hogle Zoo (2005) sand.cat1.jpg Utah, USA, [Accessed 06/10/2005] http://hoglezoo.org/animal.photos/sand.cat1.jpg ISEC (2001) SandCatRangeMap.gif International Society for Endangered Cats. [Accessed 06/10/2005] http://www.wildcatconservation.org/cats/factsheets/africa/sand/SandCatRangeMap.gif Markham, J. (1998) sandcat1.jpg Felid Taxonomic Advisory Group (TAG) of the American Zoo & Aquarium Association(AZA). [Accessed 06/10/2005] http://www.felidtag.org/pages/..%5C..%5C..%5Cimages%5Csandcat1.jpg Wolfe, Arte (2004) sand.jpg [Accessed 05/04/2006] http://www.artwolfe.com/