Origin
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.
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.
