This article is about the African feline species. For other uses, see Serval (disambiguation).
Serval
A serval in Serengeti National Park
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Carnivora
Suborder:
Feliformia
Family:
Felidae
Subfamily:
Felinae
Genus:
Leptailurus Severtzov, 1858
Species:
L. serval
Binomial name
Leptailurus serval
(Schreber, 1776)
Subspecies
L. s. serval
L. s. constantina
L. s. lipostictus
Distribution of the serval in 2015[1]
Synonyms
List
Felis serval(Schreber, 1776)
F. capensis(Forster, 1781)
F. galeopardus(Desmarest, 1820)
F. algiricus(J. B. Fischer, 1829)
F. servalina(Ogilby, 1839)
F. senegalensis(Lesson, 1839)
F. ogilbyi(Schinz, 1844)
Caracal serval[2]
The serval (Leptailurus serval) is a wild cat native to Africa. It is widespread in sub-Saharan countries, except rainforest regions. Across its range, it occurs in protected areas, and hunting it is either prohibited or regulated in range countries.
It is the sole member of the genus Leptailurus. Three subspecies are recognised. The serval is a slender, medium-sized cat that stands 54–62 cm (21–24 in) at the shoulder and weighs 9–18 kg (20–40 lb). It is characterised by a small head, large ears, a golden-yellow to buff coat spotted and striped with black, and a short, black-tipped tail. The serval has the longest legs of any cat relative to its body size.
The serval is a solitary carnivore and active both by day and at night. It preys on rodents, particularly vlei rats, small birds, frogs, insects, and reptiles, using its sense of hearing to locate prey. It leaps over 2 m (6 ft 7 in) above the ground to land on the prey on its forefeet, and finally kills it with a bite on the neck or the head. Both sexes establish highly overlapping home ranges of 10 to 32 km2 (4 to 12 sq mi), and mark them with feces and saliva. Mating takes place at different times of the year in different parts of their range, but typically once or twice a year in an area. After a gestational period of two to three months, a litter of one to four is born. The kittens are weaned at the age of one month and begin hunting on their own at six months of age. They leave their mother at the age of around 12 months.
^ abcThiel, C. (2019) [amended version of 2015 assessment]. "Leptailurus serval". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T11638A156536762. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T11638A156536762.en. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
^Johnson, W. E.; Eizirik, E.; Pecon-Slattery, J.; Murphy, W.J.; Antunes, A.; Teeling, E.; O'Brien, S. J. (2006). "The Late Miocene radiation of modern Felidae: A genetic assessment". Science. 311 (5757): 73–77. Bibcode:2006Sci...311...73J. doi:10.1126/science.1122277. PMID 16400146. S2CID 41672825.
The serval (Leptailurus serval) is a wild cat native to Africa. It is widespread in sub-Saharan countries, except rainforest regions. Across its range...
distinct Serval-based air defence platforms are under development as of 2023; the Serval LAD, intended as a dedicated counter-UAV vehicle, and the Serval Mistral...
Operation Serval (French: Opération Serval) was a French military operation in Mali. The aim of the operation was to oust Islamic militants from the north...
The Serval Project (often referred to as Serval) is a project financed by the Shuttleworth Foundation, as well as various other organisations and accepting...
a serval (Leptailurus serval) with a domestic cat (Felis catus). This hybridization typically produces large and lean offspring, with the serval's characteristic...
called a cara-serval) is the hybrid cross between a male caracal and a female serval. They have a spotted pattern similar to the serval, but on a darker...
between a male caracal (Caracal caracal) and a female serval (Leptailurus serval), while a male serval's and female caracal's offspring are called servicals...
Mordellaria serval is a species of tumbling flower beetle in the family Mordellidae. It is found in North America. "Mordellaria serval Report". Integrated...
Tomoxia serval is a species of beetle in the genus Tomoxia of the family Mordellidae. It was described by Thomas Say in 1835. Mordellidae Species List...
Wissenschaften zu Berlin (1873): 1−130. Schreber, J. C. D. (1778). "Der Serval". Die Säugethiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur, mit Beschreibungen. Erlangen:...
Opération Serval : Notes de guerre, Mali 2013, p. 303 Bernard Barrera, Opération Serval : Notes de guerre, Mali 2013, pp. 272-278. "Serval : point de...
was given to her by Serval due to the backpack she carries. Shy yet resourceful, she travels through Japari Park along with Serval to find out her identity...
"The Serval", the name of a much smaller species of cat found in Sub-Saharan Africa. The symbol on the Tomasi di Lampedusa coat of arms is a serval. Sicily...
(Operation Ellamy) War against the Islamic State (Operation Shader) Operation Serval Operation Newcombe Website www.raf.mod.uk Commanders Commander-in-Chief...
War War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Opération Licorne Iraq War Operation Serval Operation Barkhane Syrian Civil War Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017) Russian...
and 1.19 million years ago. These two species together with the serval (Leptailurus serval) form the Caracal lineage, which diverged between 11.56 and 6...
Global Information
