Research overview: genetics and phylogeny of Pallas's cat

Pallas's cat, or the manul, is a small, densely furred cat of the Central Asian steppe whose phylogenetic placement was clarified by molecular data linking it to the leopard cat lineage. This overview surveys the genetic relationships of this distinctive species, its adaptations to cold, arid, high-altitude environments, and the limited population genetic information available for a cat that is difficult to study across its remote and patchy range. It discusses the conservation status of Pallas's cat, the potential for genetic structure across its broad distribution, and how even poorly known small cats contribute to a complete understanding of felid lineage diversity.