Ever heard of a Manul, aka Pallas's Cat? Now ya have!
This feline, along with the extinct Martelli's Cat, was probably one of the first two modern cats to evolve from Pseudaelurus approximately 12 million years ago.
The Manul is about the size of a domestic cat, at 18 to 26 in long, not including its tail, and a weight of 5.5 to 9.9 lb. The combination of its stocky posture and long, dense fur makes it appear stout, plushy.... and adorable.
It has several physical features which distinguish it from other felines. For example, the eyes have round pupils rather than the slit-like pupils of other small cats, the legs are proportionately shorter than those of other cats, the ears are set very low and wide apart, and it has unusually short claws. The face is shortened compared with other cats, giving it a flattened face. The shorter jaw has fewer teeth than is usual among felids, with the first pair of upper premolars being absent.
The cats inhabit the Asian steppes between heights of 3,300 and 13,000 ft, and is now a protected species.
This feline, along with the extinct Martelli's Cat, was probably one of the first two modern cats to evolve from Pseudaelurus approximately 12 million years ago.
The Manul is about the size of a domestic cat, at 18 to 26 in long, not including its tail, and a weight of 5.5 to 9.9 lb. The combination of its stocky posture and long, dense fur makes it appear stout, plushy.... and adorable.
It has several physical features which distinguish it from other felines. For example, the eyes have round pupils rather than the slit-like pupils of other small cats, the legs are proportionately shorter than those of other cats, the ears are set very low and wide apart, and it has unusually short claws. The face is shortened compared with other cats, giving it a flattened face. The shorter jaw has fewer teeth than is usual among felids, with the first pair of upper premolars being absent.
The cats inhabit the Asian steppes between heights of 3,300 and 13,000 ft, and is now a protected species.
