Sand Cats Zoo Habitat
The sand cat does not need to drink often as it gets enough moisture from its prey.
Sand cats zoo habitat. Felis margarita Classified as Near Threatened Sand cats are Native to the deserts of Northern Africa The Middle East and Central Asia. Habitat Prefer dunes but will live in rocks. Covered with hair its footpads are insulated from the hot sand.
The largest captive group is held at Al Ain Zoo Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates. The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers sand cats to be near threatened. These tiny 3-11 pound cats live in sandy and stony deserts and are the only true desert cat species.
With big ears and large faces sand cats appear top-heavy with heads too big for their small bodies. However these features are part of their adaptation for life in the deserts where their ears are used to detect prey and thick pads enable them to walk across the hot sand. Africas Sahara desert throughout the Arabian peninsula.
During extreme heat the sand cat cools off in a burrow. Sand cats are the Peter Pan of felines. This animals sand colored coat is hard to see against dry bushes and sand and acts as protection for it.
Nature perfectly equipped this little predator to live in extreme conditions. Due to the remote harsh terrains of its habitat limited research has been conducted and populations. Dense hair on the pads of their feet protect against hot sands and the cold of the desert.
It is well suited to the desert with their short thick. It digs dens in deep sand beneath desert bushes. Theyre also a rare sight to see which is why the NC.