Sand Cat Habitat Needs

The saharan sand cat is patchily distributed in desert areas of morocco algeria niger and egypt.

Sand cat habitat needs. Prey capture is facilitated by the sand cats highly sensitive ears which are large and triangular and capable of detecting noises from animals both above and below the surface of the sand. Number of sand cats decreased drastically in the past couple of decades due to habitat loss poaching. With its sandy to light grey fur it is well camouflaged in a desert environment.

Its 57 cm short ears are set low on the sides of the head aiding detection of prey moving underground. The sand cat is the only felid found primarily in true deserts. This video narrated in French shows the dry flat desert habitat of the Sahara occupied by the African Sand Cat also known as the Sand Dune Cat.

Goodman and Helmy 1986 Primary Diet. If it gets too hot outside the sand cat will retreat to burrows. Sand cats live in three distinct regions of the world.

Africas Sahara desert throughout the Arabian peninsula. Masters of evasion with coats the same color as the desert sands. Habitat of the sand cat.

They are found near the patches of sparse vegetation that can support their prey species and the cats have special adaptations to survive in the extreme desert conditions. There are 4 subspecies of sand cat that can be found in northern parts of Africa and south-eastern parts of Asia. The smallest cat species in Arabia the sand cat Felis margarita is well adapted to its arid desert habitat obtaining all the water it needs from its food.

Conditions are extreme in the desert and temperatures can reach 124º F during the day and 31º F at night. The sand cat rests in burrows during the day to seek protection from high or low air temperatures and to minimize the loss of moisture. They inhabit dry plains and rocky valleys where surface temperatures can reach 124 degrees Fahrenheit during the daytime dropping to as low as 31 degrees Fahrenheit at night.