Pallas
Cat - Otocolobus manulBy: C.M.Shorter
The Pallas Cat has a small, stocky build but looks much larger
from its double thick, long fur coat. Hairs in the coat
are silver-tipped making the coat have a frosted appearance
which almost glistens. The Pallas cat is quite at home
in steppes, cold deserts and the rocky country of central
Asia and ranges as far as Afghanistan, Georgia, Tajikistan,
through Iran, Siberia and Tibet all the way to the Caspian
Sea where the now extinct Caspian
Tiger once roamed.
At one time, scientists mistakenly thought the Pallas
Cat to be the ancestor of modern day domestic Persian
Cats. The Pallas Cat needs this lush fur coat to protect
them from the cold winds of their rugged terrain. They
use their tails as a "muff" wrapping it around
the body for warmth as a shield against the cold, harsh
climate like the Snow
Leopard and are often found at
altitudes in excess of 4,000 metres. The Pallas Cat has
a highly developed nictitating membrane, more commonly
known as a third eyelid like our other felids but more
pronounced to fend off the sand and dust storms which
frequent much of their territory.
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These eyes are very large, golden in color
and resemble those of an owl. Pupils contract into small circles
rather than the normal feline vertical slit similar in eye structure
to the Cheetah of
the African plains. Their flat head and low set ears are believed
to be a physical adaptation to their environment allowing them
to stalk prey in areas with relatively little cover, like our desert
dwelling Sand
Cat. Pallas Cats
survive primarily on prey of small mammals such as pika, voles,
marmots and ground squirrels. Birds also comprise part of the Pallas
Cat diet and they readily take larks, sand grouse and ptarmigan
when they can catch them!
One thing is certain - the Pallas Cat is one
rugged animal and it is a good thing they have sought this environment.
It is this same rugged terrain that offers this cats greatest
protection and serves them well in surviving man. Females are
in season for extremely short periods - only 42 hours reported
for captive animals. Kittens are born much darker and their coats
do not have the silver sheen of older adults until they mature.
Radio telemetry studies are underway to try to learn more about
this beautiful Wild Cat's behavioral and reproductive patterns.
The Pallas Cat is disappearing from many of these regions because
they are so highly sought after for their pelts by local fur
traders. The luxurious coat is valued and carries a premium in
the local fur trade markets with the local populace prizing it
to adorn hats, dress collars and, take enough - you have an elegant
fur coat - OUCH! Pika poisoning campaigns on a large scale in
Russia and China have had a very detrimental effect on the Pallas
Cat due to their consumption of tainted prey. Hunting is prohibited
over most of their range and declining populations have placed
them on CITES Appendix II.
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Scientific Name: Otocolobus manul
Common Name(s): Pallas Cat (named for German naturalist, Peter
Pallas)
Manul (Mongolian name), Steppe Cat
Range: Siberia, Iran, Afghanistan through to the Caspian Sea
Average Weight: 3 - 4.5 kg (5.5-10 lbs)
Length: 70 - 96 cm (28-38")
Diet: Carnivorous. Small mammals - pika, voles, marmots and ground
squirrels. Birds - larks, sand grouse and ptarmigan
Gestation Period: 66 - 75 Days
Cub Maturity: 4 -6 Months
Cubs Per Litter: 1 - 6 Kittens
Lifespan: 8 - 10 years. Captive individuals recorded to live
12 years.
Predators: Man. Threats: Poisoning from eating tainted pica prey.
Social Structure: Solitary
Territory Size: 4-6km (2 -3 miles)
Conservation Status: Placed on CITES Appendix II.
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