The serval is a medium-sized wild cat which is native to the area in Africa south of the Sahara. It is the only species in its genus.
Ancient Egyptians worshiped servals for their grace and power. Some kept them as pets.
The species was first described by German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber as Felis serval in 1776.
The serval's length as an adult is about 32 inches (body) and 16 inches (tail). It is lightly built, and weighs about four pounds.
The serval has the longest legs of all cats, relative to its size, which help it achieve a top speed of 80 kilometers per hour (50 mph).
Not only can the serval run fast, but it is an amazing jumper: it can leap more than 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) above the ground from a standing start.
The serval has large ears with acute hearing. The serval uses its sense of hearing to locate the prey.
The serval is nocturnal, and hunts mostly at night. It is an opportunistic predator whose diet includes small birds, fish, frogs, hares, insects, reptiles and rodents (particularly vlei rats).
Like most cats, the serval is a solitary animal with minimal social interaction. It travels as much as 3 to 4 kilometres (1.9 to 2.5 mi) each night in search of food.
Servals don’t chase prey but wait for a victim to come close and then it leaps over 2 m (6 ft 7 in) above the ground to land on the prey on its forefeet before giving a fatal bite to the neck or head.
Their tan coats help the serval to blend in while hunting.
Their 50 per cent kill rate is the best of all cats.
They are rare in the UK but savannah cats – a mix of domestic and serval – are more common.
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| Pixabay |
HISTORY
Ancient Egyptians worshiped servals for their grace and power. Some kept them as pets.
The species was first described by German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber as Felis serval in 1776.
ANATOMY
The serval's length as an adult is about 32 inches (body) and 16 inches (tail). It is lightly built, and weighs about four pounds.
The serval has the longest legs of all cats, relative to its size, which help it achieve a top speed of 80 kilometers per hour (50 mph).
Not only can the serval run fast, but it is an amazing jumper: it can leap more than 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) above the ground from a standing start.
The serval has large ears with acute hearing. The serval uses its sense of hearing to locate the prey.
 |
| Pixabay |
BEHAVIOR
The serval is nocturnal, and hunts mostly at night. It is an opportunistic predator whose diet includes small birds, fish, frogs, hares, insects, reptiles and rodents (particularly vlei rats).
Like most cats, the serval is a solitary animal with minimal social interaction. It travels as much as 3 to 4 kilometres (1.9 to 2.5 mi) each night in search of food.
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| A serval cat at Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. By Bob - Picasa Web Albums, |
Servals don’t chase prey but wait for a victim to come close and then it leaps over 2 m (6 ft 7 in) above the ground to land on the prey on its forefeet before giving a fatal bite to the neck or head.
Their tan coats help the serval to blend in while hunting.
FUN SERVAL FACTS
Their 50 per cent kill rate is the best of all cats.
They are rare in the UK but savannah cats – a mix of domestic and serval – are more common.
Source Daily Mail
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