89. African Wildcat, Felis lybica Forster, 1780

(IUCN Red List: LC)

Subspecies: F. l. tristrami (Pocock, 1944) .

Distribution: Widespread but uncommon; populations are possibly decreased due to extensive persecution; confined to the wooded mountains and forests of the coastal region, arid steppes of Al-Badia south of Deir Ez-Zor to Palmyra, around Damascus, and in the southwestern region (Fig. 98).

Previous records: Dariyya and near Al-Quneitra (Harrison 1971), between Al-Quneitra and Rwihinah (Shehab 2002), Palmyra (Serra et al. 2009a), Palmyra and surrounding Damascus (Masseti 2009).

Recent records: Jabal Al-Bishri (2007–2008), Palmyra (2009), Bmalkah (2016), Al-Kadmous (2020), Al-Nabk, Al-Makhbotah and Salkhad (2021).