Hi again, Janice,
I've posted relevant bits and pieces, but when you click on the links
you'll find you can mix & match the links with your questions plus
there are photos scattered throughout.
1) Is there at least a small population of Sand Cats in the central
desert of Saudi Arabia? Felis margarita is the latin name.
Felis margarita harrisoni (Arabian Peninsula)
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/agarman/sandcat.htm
"Ten sand cats were captured alive in Riyadh district."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12561884&dopt=Abstract
Distribution of the sand cat (F. margarita) - map:
9. Mahazat as Sayed I (Saudi Arabia) (protected area);
http://lynx.uio.no/catfolk/sandctf5.htm
2) how large is it?
Size
About the size of a domestic cat, the Sand Cat stands about 26
centimeters (10.25 inches) high at the shoulder with weights ranging
from 2-3 kilograms (4.5-6.5 pounds) and its head and body measures
45-57 centimeters (17.75-22.5 inches) with a tail of 28-35 centimeters
(1113.75 inches)
http://mtnviewfarms.com/sandCat.html
"The Sand cat is one of the smallest of all the wild cat species. Its
body which is about the size of a small domestic cat - a male measures
up to 57cm and weighs only 3kg. The coat varies in colour from grey to
sandy yellow and is marked irregularly with indistinct stripy markings
- the legs are often banded with horizontal dark stripes.
Characteristic dark reddish/drown markings appear on the cheeks and to
the side of the eyes as well as covering the rear of the ears - the
chin and throat of the sand cat are white."
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/agarman/sandcat.htm
Biology
Reproductive season: In the wild, births have been reported from
Jan-Apr in the Sahara (Dragesco-Joffé 1993), in Apr in Turkmenistan
(Ognev 1935, Heptner and Sludskii 1972) and Sept-Oct in Pakistan
(Roberts 1977), but are not seasonal in captivity (Mellen 1989,
Sausman 1991)
Estrus (C): 5.25±0.75 days (n=2).
Estrus cycle (C): 46 days (n=1) (Mellen 1989).
Gestation (C): 59-63 days (n=2: Scheffel and Hemmer 1974); 66-67 days
(n=2: Mellen 1989)
Litter size (C): 2.92+0.21 (n=25: Mellen 1989); range up to five (P.
Quillen in litt. 1993) and possibly eight (Hemmer 1977)
Age at independence (W): Young sand cats grow rapidly (Heptner and
Sludskii 1972), and are thought to become independent relatively
early, perhaps at 6-8 months (Sausman 1991, H. Mendelssohn in
litt.1993)
Age at sexual maturity (C): 9 (P. Quillen in litt. 1993) to 14 months
(Mellen 1989, Green 1991)
Longevity (C): up to 13 years, but there is a high frequency of
juvenile mortality in captivity (41% of 32 sand cats born in 1991:
Sausman 1991)
http://lynx.uio.no/catfolk/sandct03.htm
3) What is their habitat?
Central Region:
"The Central Region, considered the heartland of Saudi Arabia both
physically and culturally, is a vast eroded plateau, consisting of
areas of uplands, broad valleys and dry rivers. The area also contains
a number of marshes. These are thought to be the remnants of inland
seas which existed in ancient geological times. Most of the Central
Region is arid, with some oases in the north around Qassim region. At
the center of the Central Region is the royal capital of Riyadh. The
area around Kharj which lies south of Riyadh has now become a major
source of wheat, part of the Kingdom's burgeoning agricultural
industry; while 300 miles to the north of Riyadh lies the province of
Qassim, an even larger farming area which has contributed on a massive
scale to the Kingdom's self-sufficiency in wheat and poultry. The
climate of the region is hot and dry in summer and cold in winter.
Summer temperatures sometimes exceed 45 degrees centigrade, while in
winter the temperature falls to 5 degrees centigrade or lower."
http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa1325_full.html
4) what kind of sand do they sleep in and what bushes are nearby?
"Sand cats are not good climbers or jumpers, but they are excellent
diggers. They use their digging ability to dig shallow burrows to
escape the heat of the desert during the day. They are known to lie on
their backs outside their burrows to release internal heat. Their
burrows are shared with other individuals, but more than one cat never
occupies the same burrow simultaneously."
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Felis_margarita.html
"During the extreme heat of the day the cat will often sleep under
rough scrub vegetation or more commonly in a shallow burrow dug into
the sand or in a hollow in between rocks or sandy boulders."
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/agarman/sandcat.htm
5) I understand they are loners and only come together for mating.
More info on their daily pursuits will be welcome.
"Social Organization: Sand cats are solitary, nocturnal predators,
emerging from their burrows at nightfall to travel an average of 3.5
miles (5.4 km) throughout the night. They take up a lookout position
at their den opening for 15 minutes prior to leaving for the night,
and upon their return at dawn, take up the same position prior to
entering their burrow. Burrows are used interchangeably by different
cats and the cats do not change burrows during the day. Sand cats are
very sensitive to humidity and have only been observed outside their
burrows in the daytime after several days of rain."
http://www.felidtag.org/pages/Educational%5CFactSheets%5Csandcat.htm
6) I understand they are mostly nocturnal, but could they be hunting
in the early morning? I assume so, especially in the spring when the
weather is fairly ol until 8 or 9 am.
"The sand cat is generally active only at night, according to the
results of a radiotelemetry study in Israel (Abbadi 1992), tracks seen
in the central Kara Kum Desert (Bilkevich 1934, cited in Ognev 1935),
and activity patterns observed in captivity (Hemmer 1977). Sand cats
have occasionally been observed above ground in daylight near their
burrows (Lay et al. 1970, Abbadi 1992), lying on their backs in a
posture which, in captivity, is regularly adopted at temperatures
above 30° C and presumably helps to shed internal heat. In captivity,
sand cats are very sensitive to humidity (Hemmer 1977), and it is
interesting that during six months of radio-tracking, a sand cat was
only observed resting outside its burrow in the daytime after several
days of rain (Abbadi 1992)."
http://lynx.uio.no/catfolk/sandct02.htm
"The distinctive triangular ears of the sand cat, which are large in
proportion to the rest of the cats head are particularly sensitive.
Sound does not travel well across vast expanses of sandy terrain and
it is thought that an enlarged auditory bulla (part of the inner ear)
and over sized pinnae (ear flaps) aid the cat in hearing the movements
of its common prey both above and below ground. Interestingly, the
Serval, which also has extra large pinnae is similarly thought to be
able to detect the ultra-sonic sounds of its prey as it moves just
beneath surface. The sand cats acute hearing may also play a part in
communication between male and female prior to mating and in
establishing territoriality - the male has a particularly loud barking
call which may well serve to advertise the males position across large
expanses of desert terrain."
"The sand cat is solitary and nocturnal in its hunting. During the
extreme heat of the day the cat will often sleep under rough scrub
vegetation or more commonly in a shallow burrow dug into the sand or
in a hollow in between rocks or sandy boulders. At sunset the cat will
become active, moving away from its den in search of prey at the onset
of darkness. The extent of the sand cats prey species is uncertain,
however its is known to include small rodents such as gerbil and
jerboas, insects, reptiles, including venomous desert snakes and
birds. Caching of larger prey has been observed - the sand cat using
loose sand to cover its kill. It is probable that as well as taking
prey on the surface, sand cats may also use there strong fore limbs to
dig into the burrows of certain species of diurnal gerbil."
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/agarman/sandcat.htm
7) So info on the flora andfauna of central Saudi would also be very
much appreciated.
"Located on the Arabian Peninsula, this ecoregion consists mainly of
flat desert. There is very limited biodiversity in this extreme
climate, which at times receives little to no rainfall for years at a
time. Characteristic fauna includes the Arabian white oryx, sand
gazelle, sand cat, and Ruppell?s fox. Overgrazing by livestock,
wildlife poaching, and off-road driving are the main threats to this
ecoregion."
http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa1325_full.html
Sand Gazelle (with photo)
http://www.arabianwildlife.com/nature/mammal/mam02.html
Ruppell's Sand Fox - Vulpes ruppelli (with photo)
Arabian White Oryx Information (with photo)
The Arabian or White Oryx was thought to have been the original mythical unicorn.
http://www.oryxoffroad.com/tour_wildlife.htm
"The vegetation in this ecoregion is sometimes referred to as a
pseudo-savannah. The spaces between the scattered trees and larger
shrubs are occupied by smaller shrubs and herbs; grass cover might
sometimes appear, but only after a good rainfall. The wadis and
gullies tend to support the most vegetation due to generally higher
soil moisture levels. Common plants include species of Acacia, notably
A. tortilis, A. raddiana and A. gerrardii, as well as Ziziyphus
spina-christi, Balanites aegyptiaca, Salvadora persica, Moringa
peregrina, Capparis decidua, C. cartilaginea, Cordia gharaf,
Calotropis procera, Lavandula nubica, Ephedra foliata, and many
others. On Oman?s central plains, common trees are Acacia tortilis and
A. ehrenbergiana with Prosopis cineraria in areas of deeper sand
accumulation. The most widespread and abundant grass is Stipograstis
spp."
http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa1325_full.html
VIDEO OF THE SAND CAT
http://www.bigcatrescue.org/sand_cat.htm
I hope this gives you enough food for thought. Again, if you have any
questions, please post a clarification request before closing/rating
my answer and I'll be happy to reply.
Thank you,
hummer
Google Search Terms Used:
felis margarita arabia
felis margarita harrisoni
central saudi arabia flora
Riyadh desert
"sand cats" burrows |
