Felis margarita Loche, 1858.

The Sand Cat is a small animal of an average 46 cm head-and-body length; the tail is 23 cm. The long silky fur is pale grizzled buff; paler on the underparts and the short legs and tail are banded; the soles and palms are completely covered with long curly hair, which protects them from the heat of the sand and enables the cat to move fast on the loose surface. The broad ears are set low on the head, making it look flat; the eyes are large and set forward on the face. The Sand Cat is totally adapted to its sandy desert habitat, often spending long periods without drinking water. This nocturnal carnivore eats reptiles, rodents, and birds. The low-set ears enable it to stalk its prey in areas with a little cover by presenting a low profile. Between two and five kittens are born after a gestation period of 60-90 days. The life span is up to 13 years. This rare and seldom seen cat has been reported from Sinai and sandy areas of the Eastern Desert. Its global distribution is across North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and east to southern Turkestan.