Serval | Facts & Information
# Serval | Facts & Information
Serval | Discover Fascinating Facts and Information About Serval
The Wild Serval cat belongs to the family Felidae, the order Carnivora. The closest relatives are the caracal and the cheetah. From the looks it would be put that his closest relative is the cheetah.
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Serval
The Serval is an elegant and fascinating animal, known for its distinctive fur and astonishing agility. This medium-sized mammal belongs to the Felidae family, closely related to domestic cats and other feline species. The Serval is considered to be one of the most graceful and captivating wild animal species.The scientific name of the Serval is Leptailurus serval, and it can mainly be found in the African regions south of the Sahara, in areas with scattered vegetation, as well as in marshy and even forested areas. It is a species well adapted to its environment and can be found in almost 30 African countries.
These felines are particularly recognized for their distinct physical characteristics. The Serval has a medium-sized body, with a length that can reach up to 1 meter and a shoulder height of about 50 centimeters. However, what truly draws attention to it are its long and slender legs. These extraordinary limbs, accompanied by a flexible spine, give the Serval remarkable agility and jumping ability.
The Serval's fur is covered with variable-sized black spots on a yellow background. This coloring allows the Serval to camouflage itself in environments with abundant vegetation and hide from its predators, such as lions or hyenas. Additionally, the Serval's ears are very distinctive, being larger than those of other feline species and crowned with horizontal black stripes, which give this animal a unique appearance.
The Serval's diet is varied and based mainly on hunting. These felines are capable of catching birds, rodents, and other small animals, due to their agility and rapid movement abilities. Servals can jump over 2 meters in the air to catch their prey. However, they also feed on grass and fruits from time to time. Their flexibility and adaptability allow them to survive in diverse environments and feed on available resources.
Despite being recognized for their agility and strength, Servals are quite solitary animals. Usually, a male and a female Serval only meet during the mating season, and despite brief marriages, they can have up to 4 offspring, which will stay with their mother for about a year. The role of the parent is to teach the cubs hunting techniques and other survival skills.
In recent decades, the population of Servals has dramatically decreased due to the loss of their natural habitat and poaching. These animals are particularly valuable for their fur and organs, which are used in traditional medicine. Currently, the Serval is protected by various international conventions, and conservation efforts are underway to prevent the extinction of this species.
In conclusion, the Serval is an animal with extraordinary appearance and behavior. With astonishing agility, an attractive appearance, and unique adaptability, these fascinating and mysterious felines are a valuable part of African wildlife. Despite the threats they currently face, the conservation of these animals and their natural habitats is essential to ensure their survival and protection for future generations.
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Origin
It is widespread almost throughout Africa, except in the Sahara Desert and equatorial forests. In northern Sahara, Maros and Algeria the number of specimens is smaller. It lives in territories with many bushes and vegetation that have at least one water eye. Avoid arid, semiarid areas, and tropical forests.
People use animal skin and fur for commercial purposes and meat for food. They are also killed for attacks on poultry households. In places with a high human population, the number of animals is decreasing.
Serval Food
It feeds on various types ofrodents, rabbits, small antelopes, flamingos, gazelles, reptiles, Angolan chickens and other birds and animals. When hunting, he uses his well-developed hearing to detect reptiles and rodents. Long and strong legs allow it to move quickly through the vegetation of the Savannah.
Like any feline, even if it has long legs, it cannot chase prey for long. The method used by the giraffe cat is the classic one for felines: ambush. It identifies the prey and then waits in hiding for it to approach and then rushes at it. It can jump after birds to heights of 3m. it makes unexpected jumps and can suddenly change direction.
When it pursues rodents it digs their burrows to get to them. If the menu has birds they climb trees after them, less often than other cats. If necessary, jump into the water and swim.
Serval Appearance
The wild cat resembles a domestic cat in body with the difference that it is somewhat stronger and has longer legs. Body length is 90-135cm, height at geaban 40-60cm, and weight between 8 and 17kg. It is considered a cute cat because it has legs and ears among the longest of all felines, and the head is small. The color of the body varies depending on the geographical area.
The serval cat that lives in the shade of the forest has dark fur and the spots are not obvious, instead the specimens that live in the plains have a lighter fur and the spots are obvious. Cats living in the Highlands have dark fur. There are also albino specimens, with white fur and light silver-colored spots, but these do not survive in the wild.
Leptailurus serval kempi, Uganda
Leptailurus serval kivuensis, Congo
Leptailurus serval liposticta, northern Angola
Leptailurus serval lonnbergi, Southern Algola
Leptailurus serval mababiensis, northern Botswana
Leptailurus serval robertsi, Eastern Transvaal
Leptailurus serval togoensis, Togo, Benin
Leptailurus serval serval, in Tanzania
Leptailurus serval beirae, Mozambique
Leptailurus serval brachyura, East Africa, Sahel, Ethiopia
Leptailurus serval constantina, North Africa (extinct)
Leptailurus serval hamiltoni, eastern part of Transvaal Province
Leptailurus serval hindeio, Tanzania
Leptailurus serval ingridi, Namibia, southern Botswana, Zimbabwe
Serval Behavior
It is a semi-nocturnal animal active early in the morning and at dusk. They lead a solitary life, being seen in pairs only during mating. In case of danger do what a cat knows best, run away or hide.
The cat-giraffe is sociable and can be easily domesticated. Males can mate with house cats, thus obtaining hybrids. There are also known cases where servals were paired with caracals. After mating were obtained sevricali and caravali.
Serval Breeding
As I said above servals are seen in pairs during the breeding season. They do not have a certain period in which they reproduce, except for those in the southern area of the spreading area who prefer to mate in February – April. The two are looking for each other and have been together for less than a week. The female establishes a place between the tufts of grass
After the gestation period that lasts 65-75 days, the female usually gives birth to 2-3 Cubs weighing around 250 grams. Puppies are breastfed about six months, and at the age of one year they begin to become independent and establish their own territory. Sexual maturity is reached at 18-24 months. The mother lets them stay on their territory in up to two years.
Some think it would be interesting to have such a copy. Learn that this is how the sevral was mated with the domestic cat and the Savanah breed of domestic cats was born.
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