,
7 tweets,
5 min read
Read on Twitter
While it might not be Cinco de Mayo right now Sand cats (Felis margarita) are having a desert party everyday! Tune in for this late night special of #WildcatWednesday as I share the wonderful magnificence and natural history of this alluring species! #sciencetwitter
Cats live in the sand? No!! Of course not... they just repurpose abandoned fox and porcupine burrows! *mutters* These are rather small animals weighing 3-7.5 lbs and only 15-20 inches in length allowing them to fit in small places with ease! #sciencetwitter
When you look at this animal you see a cat perfectly adapted for their environment, they live amongst the sand dunes and rocky outcrops of the Sahara and the Middle East. Their toe hair acts as an insulating pad protecting them from the hot sand! WHAAAT?! #sciencetwitter
While they may be small they are surely equipped with incredible abilities, their ear canals are larger allowing them to hear sounds 1/3 of a mile away! They can also hit speeds of 18-24 mph in sudden bursts just in case they need to escape danger! #sciencetwitter
These cats can also go majority of the year without drinking water! They have an adaptive water retention physiology where they can gain their water from the prey items they eat. They will eat anything from gerbils, geckos, beetles, and birds! #sciencetwitter
While these cats are near threatened conflict between locals is rare, culturally these cats are respected by the native people! Muslim tradition holds that similar to eagle owls, sand cats were companions to the prophet Mohammed which is fascinating! #sciencetwitter
THAAAAAAT’S ALL FOR TONIGHT! Did you enjoy this segment? What species of cat would you like to see next? Make sure to follow the Cougar Network and tune in to all the updates in the world of moutain lions here in North America! See you next time everyone, rawr! #sciencetwitter
