Felis manul (Pallas's Cat)
Adult Palla's Cat
Description: The ears are small and rounded and are widely separated on their broad head, which has a low forehead. The pupils contract to a circle and the front premolars are missing leaving them with only 28 teeth. The eyes face almost directly forwards and are orangy.
Because of its small legs the cat has an overall appearance of a rather thickset, bulky animal, which is rare in the cat family.
Coat: They basically grey with orange to yellowish hints and a sort of grizzeled appearance. The head is spotted with black on the top and with some black marks around cheeks and muzzle. The tail usually has a black tip and 4 black rings on it.
The coat is long, especially on the underside. In winter the coat has less speckles than in summer and coats can vary depending on the geographical status.
Size: Head and body length 50-65cm, tail length 21-30cm.
Weight: 2.5-3.5 kg.
Senses:
Habitat: Mountain steppe, rocky terrain, woodland and grassland, up to about 3,960 m.
Range:
Distribution: Iran to W China.
Status:
Daily Rhythm: They hunt at night and spend the day among rocks, in caves or in the dens of other creatures, that they presumably take once they have been abandoned.
Voice: Unlike big cats, small cats cannot roar, they can hiss and growl to show anger or fear and meow and pur at other times.
Enemies:
Prey: Eats mostly rodents, also taking pikas, rabbits, hares and birds.
Food and Feeding: Usually kills its own prey and eats whatever species are most available. Will ocasionally eat carrion.
Grouping: Solitary and very shy of humans.
Breeding: Breeding is though to take place once a year.
Gestation: Probably about 60 days.
Litter Size: 1-6 kittens per litter.
Young Description:
Nest:
Young Care:
Sexual Maturity:
Longevity:
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