PALLAS CAT  
Otocolobus manul

Pallas' Cat lives in eastern Asia, often in altitudes up to 13,000 feet. Unique to the cat family, it has round pupils and an especially low, boxy, stout body type as a result of its short legs, long fur, and large rump. With the ears set so low on the head, the pallas cat, also known as the Manul, can sometimes resemble an owl. This cat has been thought by some to be the ancestor of today's Persian cat, due to the flatness of their face area. Pallas' Cat is named after Peter Pallas, who discovered these unusual looking felines around the Caspian Sea in the 18th century.

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