Pallas Cat
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 Manul at Zurich Zoo (Switzerland)
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| Otocolobus manul Pallas, 1776 |
The Pallas Cat (Otocolobus manul, or Felis manul) or Manul is a small wild cat of Central Asia. It is 60 cm (24 in) long, not including its 25 cm (10 in) tail. Its fur is ochre in color with vertical bars, which are sometimes not visible due to the thick fur.
This cat has several features that distinguish it from other felines. Its legs are short, the rump is rather bulky, and the fur is long and thick. The combination of its stout posture and its thick fur makes it appear especially buxom and plushy. The fur changes between the seasons: the winter coat is greyer and less patterned. Its ears are set low and give the cat a somewhat owl-like appearance. Because of its relatively flat face, it was once thought that it was the ancestor of the Persian cat breed.
The Pallas Cat inhabits the Asian steppes up to heights of 4000 m (13,000 ft). It hunts at night for rodents, pikas and birds.
For a long time the Manul was hunted for its fur, but it is now protected in most areas, for instance in China. Since this cat feeds on agricultural pests, it is regarded as beneficial. However, poisoning of pest rodents and pikas may also affect the cat.
Subspecies:
- Otocolobus manul manul, Mongolia, western China
- Otocolobus manul ferruginea, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan
- Otocolobus manul nigripecta, Kashmir, Nepal, Tibet
[edit] References
- Cat Specialist Group (2002). Otocolobus manul. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 10 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is near threatened
