This species is distributed in the high altitude steppe of central Asia. subspecies O. m. manul is distributed in China, Mongolia, Siberia, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan; O. m. nigripectus is distributed in Bhutan, Tibet, Kashmir, and Nepal. It is active at day and dusk, forages on small rodents, and inhabits burrows.

Conservation Status:

This species is listed as Near Threatened in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (https://www.iucnredlist.org/).


According to IUCN Red List assessment, population of this species is decreasing all over its range. Previous population studies provide an estimate of 15,000 mature individuals surviving in wild. Major threat to its survival come from habitat loss due to mining activity, commercial development, agriculture of timber and non-timber crops, livestock farming and hunting.