Scientists have made important discoveries about the sand cat, a small cat that lives in the Moroccan desert. The researchers found that dune cats lead a nomadic lifestyle that changes depending on precipitation.
Despite its small size, the dune cat has the widest range of distribution of all felines and also exhibits behaviors not previously seen in wild cats. According to IFLScience, these findings challenge conventional wisdom about feral cats and have far-reaching implications for their conservation status.
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The study of the dune cat, a small cat living in the Moroccan desert, made it possible to draw important conclusions about the breed of cat (Felis). Sand cats not only have the widest range of the Felis genus, leading an apparently nomadic lifestyle, but they also exhibit behaviors not previously seen in feral cats.
The nocturnal dune cat Felis margarita lives in Africa’s Sahara Desert and Arabian Peninsula. In the southern Moroccan countryside, scientists from the Panther and Rabat and Cologne zoos identified 22 dune cats using tracker collars between 2015 and 2019 to study their ecology and habitat.
A study spanning several years showed that dune cats have a much larger habitat than expected. Despite their small size, their body length is only 45-57 centimeters, their habitat is not inferior to that of large cats such as leopards and tigers.
A dune cat covered an incredible 1,758 square kilometers in 6.5 months, making it a habitat record holder among representatives of the genus Felis, ahead of black-footed and African wildcats.
Although only 22 cats were recorded, the researchers observed 47 dune cats and captured 41 of them. All of the animals observed were in excellent health, with few scars, no wounds and strong teeth, suggesting that they lived in harmony and were not territorial.
But the most intriguing discovery was the never-before-seen behavior of wild cats. Sand cats seem to be nomadic, which changes with precipitation rather than having fixed habitats. If this is confirmed by further research, this behavior would be completely new to the feral cat species.
Unfortunately, confirmation of their wide range suggests that there may be fewer barchan cats in the wild than previously thought. The scientists behind the study recommend that the status of the sand cat, which is classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, be reconsidered as “nearly endangered.”
Overall, although much is already known about these adorable creatures, their ecology and social organization are poorly understood, so more research is needed to learn more about their diet, social organization, kinship, and environmental and anthropogenic factors.
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Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.