RANGE SIZE AND HABITAT USE OF AN ADULT MALE CARACAL IN NORTHERN SAUDI-ARABIA

Between March 1996 and January 1997 an adult male caracal was radio-tr acked in the northern steppe desert of Saudi Arabia. Total home range, using the 95% minimum convex polygon method from 65 locations, increa sed from 270 km(2) in winter and spring to 448 km(2) by the end of sum mer, reaching 1116 km(2) by January 1997. The caracal fed on camel Cam elus dromedarus and gazelle Gazella subgutturosa carcasses, and killed and ate a steppe eagle Aquila nipalensis; the faeces contained rodent bones (Meriones sp. and Gerbillus sp.). Diurnal resting areas had hig her densities of small mammals than random sites. Low prey biomass in a very arid environment probably necessitated the large movements made by this individual. (C) 1998 Academic Press.