The serval (Leptailurus serval) is a native to Africa. It is widespread in countries, except for the rainforest regions. Across its range, it occurs in protected areas, and hunting small mammals such as voles, birds like guinea fowl and snakes and lizards.
It is either prohibited or regulated in range countries.
The serval is solitary and active both by day and at night. It preys on rodents, particularly, small birds, frogs, insects, and reptiles, using its sense of hearing to locate prey. It leaps over 2 m (6 ft 7 in) above the ground to land on the prey on its forefeet, and finally kills it with a bite on the prey's neck or the head.
The serval is a slender, medium-sized cat that stands 54–62 cm (21–24 in) at the shoulder and weighs 9–18 kg (20–40 lb). It is characterised by a small head, large ears, a golden-yellow to buff coat spotted and striped with black, and a short, black-tipped tail. The serval has the longest legs of any cat relative to its body size.
The serval is similar to the caracal, but has narrower ears, a rounder skull, and lacks its prominent ear tufts. The closely set ears can rotate up to 180 degrees independently of each other and help in locating prey efficiently.
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Animals On Earth: Africa
RandomHere's the second book of the Animals On Earth Series, this time it's about African Animals which includes the likes of Elephants, crocodiles, lions, meerkats, mongooses, warthogs, caracals, cheetahs, ostritches, rhinos, tick-birds, buffalo, gazzele...
