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Rieger, I.
Tail functions in ounces, _Uncia uncia_
1984  Book Chapter

While looking at an ounce, either in an zoological garden or in freedom, its most remarkable feature will attract the observer's attention: its extreme long tail. A healthy ounce will never drag it along. The distal quarter is always held some centimeters above ground. The ounce tail, more than 90 centimeters in length, is one of the longest tails within the cat taxonomical unit. Only some leopard and tiger subspecies have absolute tail lengths in the same order of magnitude. But the relative tail length of ounces is by far the greatest of all felids. Although we still lack exact information on the range of ounces, there is no doubt that this species is adapted to an alpine climate. It lives in the central Asian mountains, above tree line. Following Allen's rule, mammalian species living preferably in a cold and snowy environment show the tendency to shorten those parts of their bodies, that have a comparatively large surface. This helps to control losses of body temperature. In some mammalian species living in sympatry with ounces, adaptations according to Allen's rule can be found. Thus, among the lagomorphs, the species living in the central Asian mountains are members of the familiy Ochotonidae which hare characterized by its small ears and short tails. With the observation in mind, that at least some mammals living in the same climate as ounces show adaptations according to Allen's rule, it is fair to conclude that the long ounce-tail has some most important functions for this species.

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