#moldpaw

American Copper (Felis cactus seclusus) Through my many studies throughout the Mojave, our team's most prolific discovery is that of the American Copper cat, aptly named due to their residence inside the old copper mines that litter the area. Categorized by their thin, pale fur and warped bone structure, we concluded that the American Copper is a subspecies of what we commonly refer to as the domestic cat - being so far secluded from the rest of other subjects, the anatomy and biology of the American Copper has changed drastically. Due to the insufficient environmental lighting, their eyes have evolved from what appears to be a Russian Topaz mutation - making it suitable for them to reside in the dark tunnels of the copper mines. The diet of the American Copper is limited - resulting in an extremely lithe bone structure, and most, if not all, of the lineage in this subspecies has a form of brittle bone disease and other bone deformities. They are very timid animals and seemed to "scatter" at the sight or movements of our flashlights - unlike most domestic cats we see in our normal day to day lives. My team and I have no understanding why they have become to secluded from the rest of the cats we have studied living in the Mojave, as the mines are not suitable for most life - especially not warm-blooded animals. I am curious to continue my studies on them, but getting through the mines has proven difficult enough, as one of my colleagues has to be lifted out due to a slip on sediment - causing her to break her arm on the way down. Below are the studies and sketches I managed to make while observing these strange animals. --Dr. Joseph Caladan Fig. 1a As seen here, the fur of the American Copper is thin, patchy and serves no purpose other than minimal warmth in the caves. Underbellies and legs are devoid of hair - leaving sickly skin exposed. Ears and other extremities appear torn, possibly from the rocky interiors. Most notable are their eyes (fig. 1b) - wide and reflective. Fig.2 A crude sketch of the skeleton, as we discovered a highly decomposed one within the sediment. Bones are airy and weak, often warped and bent - possibly due to insufficient nutrients or environmental factors. We are unsure which but hypothesize it is a combination of the two.