The sand cat, Felis margarita Loche, 1858 , is a small desert cat with a fragmented distribution across the Sahara, Arabian Peninsula, and Central Asia. It is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN; however, its status in many countries is unknown. Sand cats are generally classified into four subspecies: F. m. margarita (North Africa and Sahara) , F. m. harrisoni (Arabia), F. m. thinobia (Central Asia), and F. m. scheffeli (Pakistan). The aim of this study was to determine the validity of these subspecies using genetic analysis. Sequences from the mitochondrial control region, mitochondrial NADH subunit 5, and cytochrome b genes (643 bp) were generated in a sample set of 47 animals of known geographical origin, from across the sand cat’s range over the past 100 years. The results of the analysis suggest some degree of genetic differentiation between the African populations ( F. m. margarita ) and those of Arabian or Central Asian origin, which merits further investigation with nuclear loci and further sampling of intermediate geographical locations. There is little genetic justification for differentiation of the other proposed subspecies ( F. m. harrisoni, F. m. thinobia, and F. m. scheffeli ), which differ only by 1–3 bp mutations in their haplotypes. The genetic diversity of a set of 86 captive sand cat samples is also generated and compared to facilitate future conservation management of the species in captivity.

中文翻译：

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沙猫的线粒体系统发育 (Felis margarita Loche, 1858)

沙猫，Felis margarita Loche，1858 年，是一种小型沙漠猫，零散分布于撒哈拉沙漠、阿拉伯半岛和中亚。它目前被 IUCN 列为最不关心的；然而，它在许多国家的地位不详。沙猫一般分为四个亚种：F. m. 玛格丽塔（北非和撒哈拉），F. m. 哈里索尼（阿拉伯），F. m. Thinobia（中亚）和 F. m. 舍费利（巴基斯坦）。本研究的目的是使用遗传分析来确定这些亚种的有效性。来自线粒体控制区、线粒体 NADH 亚基 5 和细胞色素 b 基因 (643 bp) 的序列是在过去 100 年来沙猫分布范围内的 47 只已知地理起源动物的样本集中生成的。分析结果表明非洲种群 (F. m. margarita) 与阿拉伯或中亚起源的种群之间存在一定程度的遗传差异，这值得进一步研究核位点并进一步取样中间地理位置。其他提议的亚种（F. m. harrisoni、F. m. thinobia 和 F. m. scheffeli）的分化几乎没有遗传依据，它们的单倍型仅存在 1-3 bp 突变。还生成并比较了一组 86 个圈养沙猫样本的遗传多样性，以促进圈养物种的未来保护管理。这值得进一步研究核位点并进一步取样中间地理位置。其他提议的亚种（F. m. harrisoni、F. m. thinobia 和 F. m. scheffeli）的分化几乎没有遗传依据，它们的单倍型仅存在 1-3 bp 突变。还生成并比较了一组 86 个圈养沙猫样本的遗传多样性，以促进圈养物种的未来保护管理。这值得进一步研究核位点并进一步取样中间地理位置。其他提议的亚种（F. m. harrisoni、F. m. thinobia 和 F. m. scheffeli）的分化几乎没有遗传依据，它们的单倍型仅存在 1-3 bp 突变。还生成并比较了一组 86 个圈养沙猫样本的遗传多样性，以促进圈养物种的未来保护管理。