Felis margarita scheffeli was proposed as a sand cat subspecies that was described on the basis of seven deceased captive specimen that originated in the Nushki desert in Pakistan. In Pakistan, it is called Pakistan sand cat.
Video Felis margarita scheffeli
Characteristics
Museum specimen of this subspecies are darker and greyer in skin colour than African sand cat, but are more strongly marked. Kittens have more than 8 tail rings.
Maps Felis margarita scheffeli
Taxonomy
The subspecific status of sand cat recorded in Iran has not been assessed.
Distribution
The first individual was detected in 1966 near the Lora River. In the late 1960s, sand cats were also encountered farther west, in the Chagai Hills, an extremely arid area comprising rolling sand dunes and stony plains at about 1,200 m (3,900 ft) elevation. This is the only area in Pakistan, where sand cats were found. A survey has not been carried out in this area ever since.
In the national 'Red List of Pakistan's Mammals', the sand cat has been listed as Critically Endangered since 2003.
See also
- List of endangered species in Pakistan
References
Source of article : Wikipedia
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