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SERVAL
The serval (Leptailurus serval) is a medium-sized African wild cat. The serval looks similar to and is a cousin with the cheetah, which may have descended from ancient servals. Similar DNA studies have shown the African golden cat and the caracal are closely related to the serval, and may have branched by cross-breeding.
The cat's length is 33-44 in plus 12-18 in. of tail, and the shoulder height is about 21-26 in. Weight ranges from 20-35 lbs in females, and from 26-57 lbs in males. Life expectancy is about 12–16 years in the wild, and up to 20–25 years in captivity. It is a strong yet slender animal, with long legs and a fairly short tail. The head is small in relation to the body, and the tall, oval ears are set close together. The pattern of the fur is variable. Usually, the serval is boldly spotted black on tawny, with 2 or 4 stripes from the top of the head down the neck and back, transitioning into spots.In addition, melanism is known to exist in this species, giving a similar appearance to the black panther. White servals are white with silvery grey spots and have only occurred in captivity.
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Its main habitat is the savannah, although melanistic individuals are more usually found in mountainous areas. The serval needs watercourses within its territory, so it does not live in semi-deserts or dry steppes. It is able to climb and swim, but seldom does so. It has now dwindled in numbers due to human population taking over its habitat and also hunting its pelt. It is protected in most countries. |
HUNTING and DIET
The serval is specialized for catching rodents but it is an opportunist and so it’s diet also includes birds, hares, hyraxes, reptiles, insects, fish, and frogs.
As part of its adaptations for hunting in the savannahs, the serval boasts long legs (the longest of all cats, relative to body size) for jumping and large ears with acute hearing. The long legs and neck allow the serval to see over tall grasses, while its ears are used to detect prey, even those burrowing underground. The serval has been known to dig into burrows in search of underground prey, and to leap 9-10 ft) into the air to grab birds in flight. While hunting, the serval may pause for up to 15 minutes at a time to listen with eyes closed. The Serval's pounce is a distinctive and precise vertical 'hop', which may be an adaptation for capturing flushed birds. |
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Servals are extremely intelligent, and demonstrate remarkable problem-solving ability, making them notorious for getting into mischief, as well as easily outwitting their prey, and eluding other predators. The serval is sometimes preyed upon by the Leopard and other large cats. More dangerous for this cat are humans. The serval was extensively hunted for its fur. It is still common in West and East Africa, but it is extinct in the South African Cape Province and very rare north of the Sahara. |
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BREEDING
The gestation period for a female serval is 66–77 days. The litter consists of two or three young (called kittens), sometimes as few as one or as many as five. They are raised in sheltered locations such as abandoned aardvark burrows. The kittens weigh around 260 grams at birth, their eyes are fully open by nine days. By four weeks the kittens have their first solids and are weaned in 4 to 7 months. When the young servals are one year old they will leave their natal range. |
DOMESTICATION
Servals have historically been kept as pets in Africa. The Ancient Egyptians worshipped the serval as gods, and kept them as pets. More recently, they have been kept as pets in North America and Europe. Servals develop an intense emotional bond to their original owners. Often, they will choose one member of the human family they live with to form an especially close and intense bond. However, once they have bonded with a particular human family, servals do not easily accept new owners or surroundings, and they may become quite unhappy if separated or placed with other families. For this reason, anyone taking in a serval must be willing to house and keep the serval for its entire life. In the United States, owning a serval requires special licensing from local, State, and Federal agencies.
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Servals don't make good house pets. They are adorable as kittens but when they grow up they can be destructive and often don't have good litterbox habits. If you are considering a serval as a pet, please read "The Advantage of Savannahs over Servals as Pets" by Brigitte Cowell.
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