Rediscovering desert ghosts: new records and range extensions of the sand cat and Saharan striped polecat in Libya

IF 2.5 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Journal of Arid Environments Pub Date : 2025-09-25 DOI:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105485

Firas Hayder , Zimkitha J.K. Madikiza , Mohammed Saed Husayn Almuntasir , Ahmed Jomaa Sahbana , Abdullah Mokhtar Mabrok , Mohammed Sidi Hasan , Emmanuel Do Linh San

{"title":"Rediscovering desert ghosts: new records and range extensions of the sand cat and Saharan striped polecat in Libya","authors":"Firas Hayder , Zimkitha J.K. Madikiza , Mohammed Saed Husayn Almuntasir , Ahmed Jomaa Sahbana , Abdullah Mokhtar Mabrok , Mohammed Sidi Hasan , Emmanuel Do Linh San","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105485","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents the first confirmed records of the sand cat (<em>Felis margarita</em>) in Libya, supported by multiple sightings documented through photographs and videos. Thirteen records were from the southwestern region, which may represent a key stronghold for the species in the country. Additionally, eight new records of the Saharan striped polecat (<em>Poecilictis libyca</em>) were documented across southwestern Libya, seven of which lie outside the current IUCN range for the species. These findings significantly expand the known distribution of both species and highlight a major knowledge gap. Reports of both species being sold in local markets further underscore the urgent need for targeted conservation efforts, public awareness and continued field surveys to better delineate the distribution limits of these small carnivores in Libya.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"232 ","pages":"Article 105485"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Arid Environments","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196325001697","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"ECOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

This study presents the first confirmed records of the sand cat (Felis margarita) in Libya, supported by multiple sightings documented through photographs and videos. Thirteen records were from the southwestern region, which may represent a key stronghold for the species in the country. Additionally, eight new records of the Saharan striped polecat (Poecilictis libyca) were documented across southwestern Libya, seven of which lie outside the current IUCN range for the species. These findings significantly expand the known distribution of both species and highlight a major knowledge gap. Reports of both species being sold in local markets further underscore the urgent need for targeted conservation efforts, public awareness and continued field surveys to better delineate the distribution limits of these small carnivores in Libya.

查看原文本刊更多论文

重新发现沙漠幽灵：利比亚沙猫和撒哈拉条纹狸的新记录和范围扩展

这项研究首次证实了利比亚的沙猫（Felis margarita），并通过照片和视频记录了多次目击。13条记录来自西南地区，这可能代表了该物种在该国的关键据点。此外，在利比亚西南部记录了8个撒哈拉条纹狸（Poecilictis libyca）的新记录，其中7个位于目前IUCN对该物种的保护范围之外。这些发现大大扩展了这两个物种的已知分布，并突出了一个主要的知识差距。关于这两个物种在当地市场被出售的报告进一步强调了迫切需要有针对性的保护工作，公众意识和持续的实地调查，以更好地划定这些小型食肉动物在利比亚的分布界限。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Journal of Arid Environments 环境科学-环境科学

CiteScore

5.70

自引率

3.70%

发文量

144

审稿时长

55 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Arid Environments is an international journal publishing original scientific and technical research articles on physical, biological and cultural aspects of arid, semi-arid, and desert environments. As a forum of multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary dialogue it addresses research on all aspects of arid environments and their past, present and future use.