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

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 local people, and the morphological evaluation of road-killed individuals combined with their genetic typing using 29 polymorphic autosomal microsatellite loci. Genotypes were then analyzed by Bayesian clustering and assignment analyses. Questionnaires and interviews allowed us to build a preliminary alleged distribution map of the species and select candidate areas for non-invasive monitoring. The morphological and genetic characterization of road kills and museum specimens allowed us to identify pure individuals and recent wild × domestic hybrids, paving the way for better characterizing the Sardinian wildcat. Further steps of the research will allow us to shed light on this elusive presence on the island and enhance its conservation.