Krympress reports:
Manulor Pallasov Cat, is one of the most mysterious and charismatic animals that live in the harsh steppe and mountain regions of Asia. This fluffy predator is not as widely known as, say, tigers or leopards, but causes genuists, photographers and just nature lovers. In this article we will tell you what a manl is, what is its features, we will give interesting facts and figure out whether it can be kept at home.
Who is a maneul: origin and classification
Manul (lat. Otocolobus Manul) — a predatory mammal from the cat family. The view was first described by the German zoologist Peter Simon Pallas in 1776, thanks to which the Manul is sometimes called a Pallasov cat.
Main information:
- Detachment: predatory (Carnivora)
- Family: cats (Felidae)
- Genus: Otocolobus (translated from Greek — «ugly ear»)
- View: Otocolobus Manul
Manul is one of the most ancient representatives of the cat family. Genetic studies show that it was separated from the total evolutionary tree of cats about 5-6 million years ago, which makes it a “living fossil” among cats.
Habitat and lifestyle
Manules are found in the vast territory of Central Asia: from Iran and Mongolia to South Siberia and Western China. They can be found in:
- mountainous areas of Tibet,
- rocky steppes of Altai,
- Gobi deserts,
- The foothills of the Himalayas.
Manul prefers open spaces with stones, crevices and a minimum of trees. He avoids forests and too flat territories. This animal lives in conditions of sharply continental climate: in the summer — heat, in winter — frost and wind. However, thick wool and the ability to hide in crevices help him survive.
Appearance and features
Manul outwardly resembles a fluffy cat with short paws, a round head and unusual ears.
Distinctive features:
- Growth at the withers: 25-30 cm
- Body length: up to 65 cm
- Tail: up to 30 cm
- Weight: 2.5–5 kg
- Wool: The most thick among all cats
Manul wool is its main dignity. It is so dense and long that it makes it visually larger than it really is. The coloring is usually grayish-sand or smoky, with non-treasured stripes and spots, which serve as an excellent masking.
The ears of the Manul are located low and on the sides of the head — this not only gives the animal a comical look, but also helps him merge with the landscape during hunting or observing the environment.
Nutrition and habits
Manul is a predator and a loner. It leads a predominantly night or twilight lifestyle. Thanks to excellent hearing and vision, he is able to hunt even in conditions of minimal illumination.
The diet includes:
- Food,
- Small rodents (fields, tushki),
- insects,
- Birds and their eggs.
Manul cannot run for a long time or pursue prey, so he prefers an ambush hunt. Sometimes he lies for hours in the shade of the stone, waiting for a convenient moment for the attack.
Propagation and cubs
The propagation period in the manuls begins in the spring. The female brings offspring once a year, usually in May or June. Pregnancy lasts about 60–70 days.
- The number of cubs: 2-6
- The weight of newborns: 90–100 g
- Puberty: comes at 10-12 months of life
The cubs are born in secluded places — in the crevices of rocks, burrows of marmots or under snags. After 3 months, they begin to go out with their mother to hunt. However, mortality among young animals is high, especially in wildlife.
Interesting facts about Manul
- Manul does not know how to meow. His sounds are more like a hoarse grunt or snort.
- The dense wool. The wool of the manul is 2.5 times thicker than that of a domestic cat. This helps to survive in an extreme cold.
- Low speed. Due to the short paws and the massive body of the manul-a bad runner, which makes him vulnerable when meeting with predators.
- The expression of the muzzle. Manul always has a serious and slightly angry appearance that made him a hero of many Internet memes.
- Manules are camouflage masters. They are difficult to notice even in open areas.
- Poor tolerance of captivity. In the conditions of zoos, manules often get sick — the respiratory system and metabolism are especially suffering.
- They do not like people. Manuls are extremely careful, rarely appear to the eyes of a person, and even when growing in captivity remain wild.
Manul as a pet: is it possible to tame?
It is extremely difficult and not recommended to keep a Manul at home. Despite the external «cat» attractiveness, this animal remains wild.
The reasons why the Manul is not suitable for the house:
- Aggressive character. Even the Manules grown since childhood are not affectionate, do not make contact, can bite or scratch.
- Specific nutrition. Their diet is not compatible with home cat feeds.
- High sensitivity to infections. Manules are prone to respiratory diseases, especially in conditions of humidity and crowding.
- The need for space. They need a large aviary imitating the natural environment.
- Official restrictions. In many countries, it is forbidden to keep manuls without a special license.
There were cases when Manuls tried to keep in private houses or apartments, but this led either to the death of the animal or to return to special centers or zoos.
Protection and status of the type
To date, the manul is included in the Red Book as a vulnerable species. The main threats:
- habitat loss due to agriculture and mining;
- poaching-because of wool and as exotic pets;
- decrease in the number of food objects (food and rodents);
- Dogs and hunters who consider a manl to a harmful predator.
International environmental organizations (IUCN, WWF, etc.) are working on the preservation of the manulal, the creation of protected territories and breeding programs in captivity.
Manul is an amazing and rare animal that combines ancient history, evolutionary features and amazing survival. Despite the external “fluffy”, he remains a wild hunter requiring respect and protection. Attempts to tame Manul are most often doomed to failure, but watching him in nature or a zoo is a real pleasure for a zoologist or just a lover of wildlife.
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