Manuls, also known as Pallas’ cats, are arguably the most spherical cats to ever exist. They live in bitterly cold regions of Eurasia, from the Siberian taiga to the rugged slopes of the Zagros Mountains. What explains their friend shape?
Well it’s simple really. According to the laws of thermodynamics, the rate of cooling is inversely proportional to the radius of the spherical animal. Larger animals cool more slowly than smaller animals, which is why a Canada lynx is physically much larger than a bobcat. However, the harsh climate and infrequent meals put selection pressure on these animals to have smaller body sizes. How then do they cope?
By increasing their radius through the growth of a ridiculously thick coat of fur and generous stores of fat throughout their bodies, they are able to efficiently retain body heat despite their small size. Their overall density increases and eating habits allow them to thrive in such harsh environments. Manuls don’t live in abundance, so becoming ambush predators and having flexible diets increase the chance of their survival.
It’s for these same reasons why snow leopards, also known as sneps, have smaller, denser bodies with generous coats of fur compared to leopards. This is also why snow leopards curl their long, fluffy tails around their bodies when sleeping out in the cold, creating the legendary snorb.