The serval is a medium-sized wild cat found in Africa. The majority of their population is distributed across the southern Sahara region. You will usually find them in savannahs (grassy woodland areas), near flowing bodies of water. Research has shown that the African serval is closely related to both the African golden cat and the caracal. Although the fur pattern can vary, the coat is golden, with black spots and a few stripes.

Scientific Name: Leptailurus serval
Conservation Status: Least Concern

As of 2017, there are 3 recognized subspecies:

  • Leptailurus serval serval (Southern Africa)
  • Leptailurus serval constantina (Central and West Africa)
  • Leptailurus serval lipostictus (East Africa)

 

Meaning of the Name

The name “serval” is French from Portuguese (lobo) cerval “lynx,” from Latin Lupus cervarius – stag, wolf that hunts the stag.

Serval origins and history

The first person to write about the serval was a German naturalist named JCD von Schreber in 1776. According to recent studies, the serval is considered part of the caracal lineage of Felidae (cat family), along with the African golden cat. There are 8 total Felidae lineages: Panthera, Bay Cat, Caracal, Leopardus, Lynx, Puma, Leopard Cat, and Felis (domestic cat). It is believed that caracals made their first appearance on the planet over 8 million years ago.

the serval is an African wild cat

Interesting serval facts

  • Compared to other wild cats, the serval has the longest legs relative to the size of its body
  • Very skilled and successful hunter – kills 50% of its prey (more than lions)
  • Can jump up to ten feet in the air to catch prey
  • Large ears – the largest ears of any cat compared to the size of its body

 

More about servals

Physical appearance

The serval is a very slender cat. Males can reach 24 inches in in shoulder height, 39 inches in length and weigh up to 40 lbs. The cat has a small head with large ears. Its coat is striped and spotted. Servals also have extremely long legs with a black-tipped tail. The color of the cat’s fur can range from cream to a golden-yellow. The cat’s build looks similar to a cheetah, but of course, the serval is much smaller.

Serval FROM TO
Weight 18 lbs. 40 lbs.
Body Length 26 in. 39 in.
Tail Length 7.9 in. 15 in.

Where you can find servals

Inhabits North and South Africa, usually in somewhat dry regions. They also like areas that have tall grasses for cover, and places near water. In addition, they can  be found in grasslands, moorlands and bamboo thickets, and at altitudes up to 3,800 feet.

Hunting and prey (diet)

A serval in tall grassThe serval is nocturnal, and hunts its prey at night. They mainly prey on rodents but also eat birds, reptiles, insects, fish, and frogs when the opportunity for a kill arises. Servals can travel as much as 3 or 4 kilometers each night in search of food.

These small wild cats has the longest legs, relative to body size, of any cat. This allows them to jump and run up to 80 kilometers per hour with agility through the savannah grass. Not only are they able to dig underground in search of rodents, they can also jump two to three meters in the air and snatch birds. They have a 50% success rate for catching pray, 20% more than a lion.

Reproduction and lifespan

The gestation period of a female lasts from 66 to 77 days and the litters contain one to four kittens. They are able to have multiple litters each year. Females keep their kittens well hidden. Both male and female reach sexual maturity at around two years of age. Life expectancy in the wild is 10 years and up to 20 years in captivity.

Conservation threats

Habitat loss is a major threat to the serval. There numbers have also declined due to poachers, although there has a been a decline in the trading of their skins. Serval body parts are still used for medicine. It is illegal to hunt servals in several countries, including Kenya, Congo, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Algeria, Botswana, Liberia and Mozambique.