Serval

Main Characteristics
Servals are medium sized wild cats. They have a body length between 60 and 100 cms (23.5 - 39 inches), a tail length between 24 and 45 cms (9.5 - 18 inches) and they weigh between 9 and 18 kgs (20 - 40 lbs).

They are pale yellow in colour with solid black spots and variable black bands. Their head is small and rounded and they have large, rounded ears. They have a slender build and long legs.

Servals have a remarkable jumping ability which enables them to be very efficient hunters. They can leap up to 4 m (13 ft) horizontally and 1 m (3.3 ft) high when hunting prey on the ground and up to 3m (10 ft) into the air when catching birds. They also have good senses of hearing and vision.

Habitat
Servals can be found on the savannahs and grasslands of Africa. They usually inhabit an area near a water source and are mainly active at dawn and dusk.

Diet
Servals feed upon birds, lizards, insects, frogs, rodents and other small mammals.

Breeding
After a gestation period of 67 - 77 days, Servals give birth to 1 - 4 kittens. They are weaned at 5 - 6 weeks old and they reach sexual maturity at 1 - 2 years of age.

Predators
Predators of Servals include leopards and humans.

Subspecies
Subspecies of Serval include:

Leptailurus serval brachyurus
Leptailurus serval serval
Leptailurus serval tanae
Leptailurus serval constantina
Leptailurus serval phillipsi
Leptailurus serval liptositictus
Leptailurus serval hindei

Interesting Facts

Within the cat family, Servals have the largest ears and longest legs relative to their body size.

Servals are also known by the scientific name Felis serval.

Servals have been bred with the domestic cat to create a hybrid breed of domestic cat known as the Savannah.