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Sardinian wildcat
Subspecies of carnivore From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Sardinian wildcat (or, less commonly, the Sardinian lynx) is an isolated population of feral cats (Felis catus) on the island of Sardinia, introduced during the Roman Empire.[1] It has historically been misidentified as a species of lynx or a subspecies of wildcat.
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Under the name Felis lybica sarda, it is locally protected as a rare species under the Berne Convention, the Habitats Directive, and regional legislation of the Sardinian Autonomous Region.[2]
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Taxonomic history
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The population was first described as a wildcat as Felis libyca sarda by Fernand Lataste in 1885, based on the skin and skull of a male cat from Sarrabus in Sardinia, which he wrote resembled an African wildcat but more reddish, grey, and brown, and with longer hairs on the back.[3] Another name, Felis mediterranea, was also proposed for wildcats from Sardinia in 1896.[4]
In 1910 it was reclassified as Felis ocreate sarda,[5] while in 1912 it was considered a full species Felis sarda by Miller.[6]
The Sardinian lynx with the scientific name Lynx lynx sardiniae was proposed by the Italian biologist Pasquale Mola in 1908 for two zoological specimens of a cat from Nuoro in Sardinia that were part of the zoological collection of the University of Sassari.[7][8] These specimens were reassessed in 1911 by Alessandro Ghigi who identified them as Sardinian wildcats.[9] Gighi's assessment was corroborated in 1981 by an Italian biologist who examined the still available mounted specimen initially described by Mola.[10]
Following taxonomic changes around Felis lybica, an updated name is Felis lybica sarda.[citation needed] The term Felis silvestris lybica var. sarda, using an outdated name for the African wildcat, was also used in one paper.[11]
Results of zooarchaeological research indicate that Sardinian wild cats descended from domestic cats that were introduced around the beginning of the first millennium during the Roman Empire, and probably originated in the Near East.[1][12]
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Description
Sardinian wildcats reach 70 centimetres (28 in) of head-body length, and have more robust builds than housecats. The tail is roughly half the length of the body. The head is rounded, with a flattened muzzle and distinctive ear tufts. The fur is striped in a tabby pattern, with parallel head stripes that merge into a long dorsal stripe that runs until the tail, from which lateral stripes branch off and merge into the lighter fur of the belly. It is typically ash grey or yellow-grey in color.[13]
Mola described the body length of these specimens as 50 cm (20 in) with a 25 cm (9.8 in) long tail and a shoulder height of 35 cm (14 in). Their long and dense fur was fulvous on the back and whitish on the belly. He considered them to be a crossing of a lynx and a domestic cat.[7][8]
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Behaviour and ecology
The Sardinian wildcat inhabits montane forests in the interior of the island, favoring maquis, holly oak woods, and other deciduous woodlands with dense undergrowth, as well as rocky valleys and montane areas. It's chiefly crepuscular, and typically spends the night and day hours in cover. Mating occurs in February and March; after a pregnancy of eight to nine weeks, two to six kittens are born between April and June, which become independent after three months.[13]
Hunting and prey
The Sardinian wildcat feeds primarily on small forest-dwelling rodents, alongside passeriforms, reptiles, and amphibians. The most common rodent prey are the wood mouse, the European edible dormouse, and the garden dormouse. In areas where these are abundant, it is also known to take larger prey such as the Barbary partridge, European hare, and European rabbit.[13]
Conservation and threats
The primary threats to the Sardinian wildcat are habitat fragmentation, poaching, and genetic pollution due to hybridization with domestic housecats.[2][13]
See also
References
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