Unghosting the Sardinian wildcat: morphological and molecular characterization of a vanishing felid.

ABSTRACT: The Sardinian wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica) belongs to a felid North-African lineage that reached the Mediterranean island in Neolithic times. While numerous studies have been conducted on the European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris), very little is known about the Sardinian wildcat ecology, genetics, and conservation status. Therefore, it is paramount to investigate the current distribution and genetics of the Sardinian population of F. s. lybica, previously described as var. sarda. In this work we assessed morphological and molecular traits of Sardinian wildcats, ascertained areas of species presence on the island, and investigated possible occurrence of hybridization with domestic cats. An integrated approach was adopted, involving questionnaire distribution and interviews to

SUBMITTER: Lecis R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12781709 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature