Sand Cat Research Paper
The Felis margarita, most commonly know as the Sand cat or the Sand dune cat, is a small, stocky, endangered feline. Its legs are relatively short and its tail is longer than average. Their fur is a pale sandy ocherous color with black and white markings differing between each individual. A broad head with pointy ears is an unique distinguishing factor of these desert hunters. (1) Sand cats are primarily found in true deserts, such as northern Africa and southwest/central Asia. Although there have been sightings in areas such as Libya and Egypt, there had been no historical records. The gaps in the range could actually be a species absence, but there is a possibility that it is a lack of records. The range in which the cats live has not changed
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For example, the Sand cat has very thick fur on the bottom of their feet. The fur grows in such a nature in order to protect the cat from temperature extreme grounds. In desert areas, the fur prevents the cat from burning their paws, but in areas that are more northern, the fur protects against snow and ice.(2) Another adaptation is tremendous hearing. A Sand cat can hear so well, that if an insect is moving beneath the sand, it can hear the noise and then attack the area. When the cats are not hunting based off noises, they spend the majority of their time in tunnels made under the sand. They dig tunnels when the temperature outside is hospitable, and then during the day, when the desert is scorching hot, the cats will stay in their tunnels away from the sun. (3) For most of the year, the cats live in their tunnels alone. They are solitary creatures who only interact with other Sand cats during mating season. For the majority of the time, the cats have the same general vocalizations as domestic cats, but when attracting a mate and when mating, female cats produce a raspy bark. Once a liter of Sand cats is born, they are blind and helpless. They open their eyes 14 days after they are born. After 3-6 months of age, the cats become independent. Sense the cats spend the majority of their time during the day in their tunnels, most all travel happens at night. Traveling 3.1-6.2 miles per night is
For example, the Sand cat has very thick fur on the bottom of their feet. The fur grows in such a nature in order to protect the cat from temperature extreme grounds. In desert areas, the fur prevents the cat from burning their paws, but in areas that are more northern, the fur protects against snow and ice.(2) Another adaptation is tremendous hearing. A Sand cat can hear so well, that if an insect is moving beneath the sand, it can hear the noise and then attack the area. When the cats are not hunting based off noises, they spend the majority of their time in tunnels made under the sand. They dig tunnels when the temperature outside is hospitable, and then during the day, when the desert is scorching hot, the cats will stay in their tunnels away from the sun. (3) For most of the year, the cats live in their tunnels alone. They are solitary creatures who only interact with other Sand cats during mating season. For the majority of the time, the cats have the same general vocalizations as domestic cats, but when attracting a mate and when mating, female cats produce a raspy bark. Once a liter of Sand cats is born, they are blind and helpless. They open their eyes 14 days after they are born. After 3-6 months of age, the cats become independent. Sense the cats spend the majority of their time during the day in their tunnels, most all travel happens at night. Traveling 3.1-6.2 miles per night is