The
Pallas' cat , named after German naturalist Pyotr Simon Pallas (1741-1811),
is a small-sized wild cat known for its flattened face, stocky build, and
long hair. The cats' coat is unique with black spots on the head and varying
black stripes either on the back, tail, or both. The hair's tip is white,
producing a mystical, frosty appearance. Weight ranges from 2-4.5 kg in the
adult cat. The Pallas' cat is adapted to cold arid environments and lives in
rocky terrain and grasslands through out central Asia and parts of Eastern
Europe.
Zoological name: Otocolobus manul
Species: There is huge variation in coat color across the entire
range of this species. This has caused some scientists to refer to them with
three different subspecies classifications. There are three named
subspecies, the nominate race, O. m. manul, from Mongolia, western China and
Russia being the smallest and rarest. The race from Turkmenia, Afghanistan
and northern Iran, O. m. ferugineus, is reddish in color. The race from
northern Pakistan, northern India, Tibet, Khazakstan, Kirgizstan,
Tadzhikistan, Uzbekistan and northern Nepal is referred to as O. m.
nigripectus (if valid).
Presence on the planet: The range of the palas cat extends from Iran
through southern Asia to parts of western China. Its habitat varies from
rocky desert through steppes to barren mountainous regions up to about
15,000 feet and the extremes in temperature in all these areas is combated
by the palas cats dense fur. During the day the cat uses caves, burrows and
rock fissures to sleep and becomes more active toward dusk. The palas cat is
a lone, nocturnal hunter and preys predominately on rodents and small
mammals.
Physical appearance: These small cats have a stocky body with thick
soft fur and an abundant dark, woolly underfur which is double the length of
that on the rest of the body. The colour varies from a light grey to a
yellowish buff and russet, with the white tips of the hair producing a
frosted appearance. There are some faint stripes along the sides of the body
(more visible on the summer coat), and the fur on the underside is darker
and longer than that above. Their head is round and broad with scattered
black spots on the forehead, and two distinct parallel black bars on each
cheek. The large, owl-like eyes are yellow, and the pupils contract into
small circles instead of the usual vertical slits. The ears are short,
rounded, and set low on the sides of the head. They are buff on the backs.
The legs are short and stout, and the tail is thickly furred with a broad
terminal black band, and five to six narrow rings along it.
Diet: Pika form the major part of their diet, with small rodents,
birds and insects also part of their diet. They not only catch their prey by
chasing, but also by waiting outside of dens and ambushing the prey. If the
holes are shallow, they have also been seen "fishing" for prey
with their paws.
Reproduction & Offspring: Very little is known about the
reproductive habits of these solitary felines. What is known comes from
studies of Otocolobus manul in the former Soviet Union.
Litters generally range from 3 to 6 kittens in size, but some have been
found to have as many as eight. Like many other felines, the kittens are
blind and helpless when borne. They are typically about 12cm long and weigh
around 300g at birth. The kittens molt around the age of two months, and
have been observed hunting by the age of three to four months.
Conservation status: Pallas' cats are regulated by CITES as Appendix
II species. They are not covered by the U.S. Endangered Species Act but are
protected by national legislation over most of their range. IUCN considers
them Insufficiently Known. Described as being most abundant on the cold
grasslands of Mongolia, Inner Mongolia and the Tibetan Plateau, it occurs
widely but is nowhere common. Elsewhere the species is considered vulnerable
to rare and uncommon, including in Afghanistan, Ladakh, northern India and
Pakistan, and especially the small, isolated population in Baluchistan.
Life span: 12 years
Genetic analysis of Palas cats!
Genetic analysis of our wild Pallas' cats is being conducted at the
Laboratory of Genomic Diversity at the National Cancer Institute Frederick,
MD, USA. Preliminary genetic analysis has found no underlying genetic basis
for Pallas' cats' unique susceptibility to disease, however a full-scale
investigation is still warranted. Our wild Pallas' cat genetic samples are
also included in a larger phylogenetically-based molecular taxonomy study
currently underway. Taking advantage of the most current DNA tools
available, this endeavor holds promise for genetic definitions of cat
species and subspecies, with profound impact on conservation plans for all
endangered cats.
