Lincoln Park Zoo

Common name: Sand cat Latin Name: Felis margarita Class: Mammals Order:    Carnivora Description A small, fierce predator, the sand cat is roughly the size of a domestic cat, weighing up to 7 pounds. The species has a pale coat with dark stripes on the tail and legs. Long hairs extending from the ears protect the animal’s hearing against the sand of its desert environment.

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Range
The sand cat can be found from North Africa’s Sahara Desert through the Middle East into Central Asia.

Status
The sand cat’s isolated, extreme environments make it difficult for scientists to study the species. As a result, its numbers in the wild aren’t precisely known. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists them as near-threatened.

Habitat
This hardy predator inhabits dry, sandy deserts. It’s adapted to withstand temperatures ranging from below freezing to well over 100 F.

Niche
Nocturnal hunters, sand cats use their formidable sense of hearing to locate rodents, insects and reptiles beneath the sands. They are known to attack and consume venomous snakes. In turn, they are preyed on by jackals, snakes and owls.

Life History
Excellent diggers, sand cats spend much of the desert day in burrows dug beneath the sand, helping them to stay cool. They rarely drink water, obtaining the moisture they require from prey. The species is solitary, coming together only to breed.