SAND CAT

FELIDAE

COMMON NAME	FAMILY	GENUS	SCIENTIFIC NAME	SUB SPECIES – 6
SAND CAT	Felidae	Felis	Felis margarita	1.  Persian Sand Cat - (Felis margarita margarita)
The sand cat (Felis margarita), also known as the sand dune cat, is the only felid found primarily in true desert, and has a wide but apparently disjunct distribution through the deserts of northern Africa and southwest and central Asia. Since 2002 this small cat has been listed as Near Threatened by IUCN due to concern over potential low population size and decline. Sand cats are found in both sandy and stony desert, living in areas far from water. Having thickly furred feet they are well adapted to the extremes of a desert environment, and tolerant of extremes of hot and cold temperatures. Victor Loche first described the sand cat in 1858 from a specimen found in the Sahara. He proposed to name the species in recognition of Jean Auguste Margueritte who headed the expedition into the Sahara.				2.  (Felis margarita thinobia)
				3.  (Felis margarita meinertzhageni)
				4.  (Felis margarita airensis)
				5.  (Felis margarita scheffeli)
				6.  (Felis margarita harrisoni)