Pallas' Cat

The Pallas's cat, also known as the manul, is a small wild cat with long and dense light grey fur. Its rounded ears are set low on the sides of the head. Its head-and-body length ranges from 46 to 65 cm with a 21 to 31 cm long bushy tail. They are solitary and territorial, with both males and females scent marking territories of about two to three miles. Pallas' cats spend their days in caves, crevices, and burrows made by other animals, emerging toward dusk to hunt. The Pallas cat has a wide but fragmented distribution across the grasslands and montane steppes of Central Asia, including Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and northern India. Mongolia and Russia make up the majority of its range today, with Pallas cats living at altitudes up to nearly 5,600m.

Lifespan: 8 to 9 years old

Name Origin: The word 'manul' has its roots in the Mongolian language

Population: approximately 58,000 mature

Habitat: central Asia

Mass: 6.7 lbs (Adult)

Conservation Status: Near Threatened

Gestation Period: 76 days

Trophic Level: Carnivorous