The world’s highest mountain, Mt. Everest, brings to mind one of the most inhospitable places on the earth. Now breaking news in Cat News reveals that scientists have found proof of Pallas’s cat there in Nepal’s Sagarmatha National Park.

In 2019, from April 7 to May 2, scientists from eight countries explored this region as part of the project called the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Everest Expedition. Led by Dr. Tracie Seimon of the Wildlife Conservation Society, they collected environmental samples from SNP.

The genetic analysis of these samples revealed that there were at least two Pallas cats inhabiting Mt. Everest. DNA of Pika, a small mountain-dwelling mammal, and mountain weasel, also a mammal, were found in the samples, and these animals for a vital part of the diet of these cats.

Sharing details about the find, Dr. Seimon said: “It is phenomenal to discover proof of this rare and remarkable species at the top of the world. The discovery of Pallas’s cat on Everest illuminates the rich biodiversity of this remote high-alpine ecosystem and extends the known range of this species to eastern Nepal.”

Named in honor of Peter Simon Pallas, the scientist who described this species in 1776, this species is found across the grasslands in Asia with the majority of its range falling in Russia and Mongolia.

A very distinctive-looking felid, it has short legs, a stocky and compact build, and long fur. Its underparts have hair that is twice as long as on the top and sides, keeping it warm in very cold conditions, a typical attribute of its habitat.

With this discovery, a new species gets added to the list of known mammals in SNP, a protected World Heritage site. Pallas’s cat is protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Further study is required to know more about this cat’s range, density, population, and diet.

The Creature Feature: 10 Fun Facts About the Pallas' Cat

The Pallas' cat (Otocolobus manul) is a small wildcat known for its unusual, and adorable, look: a flattened and rounded face, stocky build, and super fluffiness make it appear stout and plush.

But they're more than just pretty faces. Read on to find out what else makes the Pallas' cat truly awesome.

1. The Pallas' cat also goes by the name manul. German naturalist Peter Pallas originally classified the cat as Felis manul in 1776. The word 'manul' has its roots in the Mongolian language. Its current scientific name, Otocolobus, comes from the Greek language and can be translated to 'ugly-eared.' When Pallas first described the cat, he erroneously suggested it was the ancestor of the domestic Persian breed because of its long fur, stout build, and flattened face.

2. All that fluff creates the illusion of size. Pallas' cats appear to be bigger and heavier than they actually are due to their stocky builds and long, dense coats. In reality, they're about the size of domestic cats: they measure up to 26 inches in body length (with an 8-12 inch tail) and weigh only around 10 pounds.

3. They have unusual pupils. Unlike other cats, the pupils of Pallas' cats contract into small circles rather than vertical slits.

4. Pallas' cats are particular about their habitat. They live throughout central Asia, from western Iran to western China. Within this range, Pallas' cats prefer the cold and arid environments of rocky steppes and grasslands at elevations up to about 15,000 feet.

5. Pallas' cats have the longest and densest fur of any cat. Their fur is nearly twice as long on their belly and tail as on their top and sides. Presumably, this helps keep the cats warm as they hunt on snow or frozen ground. The length and density of their fur also change seasonally, growing longer and heavier in the winter.

   Pallas' cats go through two major color phases. In the winter, their coats are grayer and more uniform in color, while in the summer they have more stripes and ochre colors in their fur. They have black rings on their tails, scattered black spots on their foreheads, and dark stripes running from their eyes down their cheeks. The frosted, silvery appearance of their coats is due to the white tips of their hairs.

6. Pallas' cats are loners. 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.

7. They have an extremely short mating season. Female Pallas' cats are in estrus for only 26 to 42 hours, a shorter period than most cats. Mating occurs in February and March and females give birth to a litter of two to six kittens in April and May. By four months old, the kittens begin hunting with their mother, and they reach adult size by six months. They're ready to breed at the age of ten to eleven months.

8. Pallas' cats are ambush hunters. They stalk their prey using short vegetation and rocky terrain for cover, or sometimes wait at entrances to burrows and pounce when their inhabitants exit. Pallas' cats prey mainly upon pikas as well as other small rodents, birds, and the occasional insect.

9. They're poor runners. The Pallas' cat's compact body makes it a poor runner. When chased, it seeks refuge on boulders or in small crevasses.

10. Pallas' cats make a variety of sounds. They yelp or growl when excited, making a sound similar to a small dog. Pallas' cats can also purr.

References:

indianarrative.com