''Felis margarita margarita'', sometimes called the Saharan sand cat, is a

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

of the

sand cat The sand cat (''Felis margarita'') is a small wild cat that inhabits sandy and stony deserts far from water sources. With its sandy to light grey fur, it is well camouflaged in a desert environment. Its head-and-body length ranges from with a ...

native to the

Sahara , photo = Sahara real color.jpg , photo_caption = The Sahara taken by Apollo 17 astronauts, 1972 , map = , map_image = , location = , country = , country1 = , ...

.Schauenberg, P. (1974)
Données nouvelles sur le Chat des sables ''Felis margarita'' Loche, 1858
. ew data on the sandcat ''Felis margarita'' Loche, 1858.Revue Suisse De Zoologie 81(4): 949–969

Taxonomy

Victor Loche Victor Loche (1806–1863) was a French soldier and naturalist. In 1856–1857, he participated in an expedition to the Algerian part of the Sahara, and described the mammals and birds of Algeria in the book ''Catalogue des mammifères et des oise ...

first described a sand cat

zoological specimen A zoological specimen is an animal or part of an animal preserved for scientific use. Various uses are: to verify the identity of a (species), to allow study, increase public knowledge of zoology. Zoological specimens are extremely diverse. Exampl ...

found in the northern

Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Algiers , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , relig ...

Sahara , photo = Sahara real color.jpg , photo_caption = The Sahara taken by Apollo 17 astronauts, 1972 , map = , map_image = , location = , country = , country1 = , ...

. He named it ''Felis margarita'' in recognition of

Jean Auguste Margueritte Jean Auguste Margueritte (15 January 1823 – 6 September 1870), French General, father of Victor Margueritte and Paul Margueritte. After a career in Algeria, General Margueritte was mortally wounded in the great cavalry charge at Sedan, in ...

, who headed the expedition into the Sahara. This is the

nominate Nomination is part of the process of selecting a candidate for either election to a public office, or the bestowing of an honor or award. A collection of nominees narrowed from the full list of candidates is a short list. Political office In the ...

subspecies. Following Loche's description,

Reginald Innes Pocock Reginald Innes Pocock F.R.S. (4 March 1863 – 9 August 1947) was a British zoologist. Pocock was born in Clifton, Bristol, the fourth son of Rev. Nicholas Pocock and Edith Prichard. He began showing interest in natural history at St. Edward ...

described two more sand cat specimens from North Africa in 1938: *''Felis margarita meinertzhageni'', a specimen from the Algerian Sahara. *''Felis margarita aïrensis'', a specimen from the

Aïr Mountains The Aïr Mountains or Aïr Massif ( tmh, Ayăr; Hausa: Eastern ''Azbin'', Western ''Abzin'') is a triangular massif, located in northern Niger, within the Sahara. Part of the West Saharan montane xeric woodlands ecoregion, they r ...

area in southwestern

French Sudan French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with France ...

. Today, these

taxa In biology, a taxon (back-formation from ''taxonomy''; plural taxa) is a group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit. Although neither is required, a taxon is usually known by a particular nam ...

are not recognized as valid but considered

synonyms A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...

of ''F. m. margarita'', the

nominate subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

Characteristics

The Saharan sand cat is the smallest of all the four subspecies. It has a bright fur colour, pronounced markings and 2–6 rings on the tail.Sliwa, A. (2009). Sand Cat ''Felis margarita''. In: D. E. Wilson, R. A. Mittermeier (eds.) Handbook of the Mammals of the World, Volume 1: Order Carnivora. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

Distribution and habitat

The Saharan sand cat is patchily distributed in desert areas of Morocco, Algeria, Niger and Egypt.

Ecology and behaviour

Sand cats prey on small rodents, birds and reptiles. They drink water if available, but satisfy most of their moisture need from prey, which they can dig out of the sand quickly.Sliwa, A. (2013). ''Felis margarita'' Sand Cat. In: J. Kingdon, D. Happold (eds.) Mammals of Africa, Volume V: Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses. Bloomsbury Publishing, London. Pp. 199–202. They have also been observed to hunt and consume

horned A horn is a permanent pointed projection on the head of various animals that consists of a covering of keratin and other proteins surrounding a core of live bone. Horns are distinct from antlers, which are not permanent. In mammals, true horns ...

and sand vipers.Dragesco-Joffé, A. (1993). Le Chat des sables, une redoutable chasseur de serpents. In: La Vie sauvage au Sahara. Delachaux & Niestlé, Lausanne, Paris.

Reproduction

In the Sahara, sand cats mate in the cold season between November and February. Young are born between January and April. A noise similar to a bark of a dog is thought to be a

mating call A mating call is the auditory signal used by animals to attract mates. It can occur in males or females, but literature is abundantly favored toward researching mating calls in females. In addition, mating calls are often the subject of mate choic ...

. Captive sand cats normally have three kittens in a litter and have more than one litter per year.Wheeler, S. (2004)
"Felis margarita."
Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan and National Science Foundation.

Threats

The sand cat is threatened by expanding human settlements, and is killed in traps set up by herders. Domestic dogs and cats are direct competitors for prey, and possibly transmit diseases.

References

External links

Arkive.org: "Sand Cat (Felis Margarita)."
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5442090

margarita A margarita is a cocktail consisting of Tequila, triple sec, and lime juice often served with salt on the rim of the glass. The drink is served shaken with ice (on the rocks), blended with ice (frozen margarita), or without ice (straight up). T ...

Fauna of the Sahara Mammals described in 1858 Taxa named by Victor Loche