Pallas’s Cat (Otocolobus manul) Classification

Otocolobus manul (Pallas, 1776) is a small, solitary, terrestrial felid commonly called the Manul and is the sole species of its genus.

It occurs in Afghanistan, Armenia, Bhutan, China, India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, and Turkmenistan. Otocolobus manul might still occur in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan but might be extinct in Azerbaijan.

As assessed in 2020, O. manul is listed as “Least Concern” (LC) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List of Threatened Species, with an estimate of 58,000 adults, although the population might be decreasing.

Noonan, Paula & Baker, Zoe & Hayssen, V.. (2024). Otocolobus manul (Carnivora: Felidae). Mammalian Species. 56. 10.1093/mspecies/seae004.

Olfactory communication is important for many solitary carnivores to delineate territories and communicate with potential mates and competitors. Pallas’s cats (Otocolobus manul) are small felids with little published research on their ecology and behaviour, including if they avoid or change behaviours due to dominant carnivores.

We studied their olfactory communication and visitation at scent-marking sites using camera traps in two study areas in Mongolia.

We documented four types of olfactory communication behaviours, and olfaction (sniffing) was the most frequent. Pallas’s cats used olfactory communication most frequently at sites that were not visited by snow leopards (Panthera uncia) and when they used communal scent-marking sites, they were more likely to use olfactory communication when a longer time had elapsed since the last visit by a snow leopard.

This suggests that Pallas’s cats may reduce advertising their presence in response to occurrence of snow leopards, possibly to limit predation risk.

Allen, Max & Rovero, Francesco & Oberosler, Valentina & Augugliaro, Claudio & Krofel, Miha. (2023). Effects of snow leopards (Panthera uncia) on olfactory communication of Pallas’s cats (Otocolobus manul) in Altai Mountains, Mongolia. Behaviour. 160. 807–815. 10.1163/1568539X-bja10229.

Identifying the association between the patterns of niche occupation and phylogenetic relationships among sister clades and assisting conservation planning implications are of the most important applications of species distribution models (SDMs). However, most studies have been carried out regardless of within taxon genetic differentiation and the potential of local adaptation occurring within the species level.

The Pallas's cat (Otocolobus manul) is a less-studied species with unknown biogeography and phylogenetic structure across a widespread yet isolated range from the Caucasus to eastern China. In the current study, by considering a previously proposed genetic structure and based on a cluster analysis on climatic variables, we supposed three clades for this species, including O. m. manul, O. m. ferrugineus, and O. m. nigripectus. We developed SDM for each clade separately and compared it with a general distribution model of the species to determine whether the hypothesized taxonomic resolution affects the predicted ecological niche of the within-species structures. We assessed the effect of climate change on the future distribution of the species to detect the most sensitive clades to global warming scenarios.

Our results showed that for all clades' models, the AUC and TSS were greater than the general model. Access to the preferred prey of the Pallas's cat, that is, pika, had a significant effect on the distribution of O. m. manul and O. m. ferrugineus, whereas the most influential variable affecting O. m. nigripectus habitat suitability was terrain slope. Based on our future projections, we found that future climate change likely threatens the clades O. m. ferrugineus and O. m. nigripectus more than O. m. manul, findings that were hidden in the general model.

Our results highlight the proficiency of SDMs in recognizing within-taxon habitat use of widespread species and the necessity of this procedure for implementing effective conservation planning of these species.

Lorestani, N.; Hemami, M.-R.; Rezvani, A.; Ahmadi, M.
Ecological niche models reveal divergent habitat use of Pallas's cat in the Eurasian cold steppes
2022 Ecology and Evolution (12): e9624

The Pallas's cat, or Manul, Otocolobus manul, belongs to the small felines. In Russia this species is located at the northern periphery of its range. Potential habitats of this species within its Russian range's part have been highlighted on the base of remote sensing data, topographic maps and digital cartographic models.

Maps of the Pallas's cat's records in Russia have been compiled using literature data, authors' own data and information provided by contributors of the online database «Small Wild Сats of Eurasia». We have shown the representation of potential habitats of the Pallas's cat and its actual registrations within Protected Areas of Russia. The total area of potential habitats for this species in Russia is assessed as 145,150 km2. The presence of Manul is confirmed for five regions of Russia: Republic of Altai, Republic of Tyva, Republic of Buryatia, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Trans-Baikal Krai. The registration of the species' records mainly corresponds to the location of its potential habitats.

The main categories of both federal and regional Russian Protected Areas cover 10.8% (13.5% taken with the buffer zones) of the total area of potential habitats for the Pallas's cat. The significance of each Protected Area for Manul conservation has been considered in detail. We have discussed whether the representativeness of the existing Protected Areas is sufficient for conservation of this species. We have identified the main territorial gaps that reduce the Pallas's cat protection in some parts of the Russian range.

Barashkova, Anna & Kirilyuk, Vadim & Smelansky, Ilya. (2017). Significance of Protected Areas for the Pallas's cat (Otocolobus manul: Felidae) Conservation in Russia. Nature Conservation Research. 2. 113-124. 10.24189/ncr.2017.019.