| Serval Leptailurus serval |
Size: females 9-13 kg (20-29 lbs) males 9-18 kg (20-40 lbs).
Habitat: Servals prefer well-watered savannah envitronments with tall grass, such as reed beds along reivers and streams. They are not found in rainforest.
Primary prey: Large and small rodents, as well as birds, reptiles, fish, and insects.
Conservation Status: Stable (endangered in North Africa).
Principal threats: destruction of wetland habitats; illegal hunting.
Distribution: Servals are found throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa, in grasslands near water. A few relict populations may exist in North Africa.
Notable Features: The serval is a slender, long-legged cat with very large ears. Servals often locate their prey in tall grass by listening and then make a characteristic high leap and pounce on their victims.
| Serval |
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Produced by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. © Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Foundation This page was made possible by a grant from Friskies Pet Care Corporation and the National Science Foundation. All photographic images contained within these web pages ARE COPYRIGHTED and may not be reproduced, or utilized in any manner, without the express written consent the owner. Serval photograph by Nancy Vandermey, © Nancy Vandermey, Exotic Feline Breeding Compound. Page design by Jim Angus |