Carnivores: Aardwolf African Wild Cat African Wild Dog Banded Mongoose Bat Eared Fox Black-backed Jackal Brown Hyena Cape Clawless Otter Cape Fox Caracal Cheetah Civet Dhole Large Spotted Genet Golden Jackal Honey badger Leopard African Lion Asiatic Lion Sand Cat Serval Side Striped Jackal Snow Leopard Spotted Hyena Striped Hyena Suricate (Meercat) Tiger White Tailed Mongoose Yellow Mongoose
The Serval is a slender long legged cat approximately 85-100cm in length, 35cm high at the shoulder, and weighing around 9-12Kg. It is a light tawny colour with solid black spots (like a cheetah), and white undersides. The colour can vary slightly in different areas. The tail has black bands and a black tip. The Serval is often described as looking like a small Cheetah.
The Serval is mainly nocturnal or Crepuscular (active around dawn and dusk), but are sometimes active during daylights. Servals are good climbers and will climb trees to escape danger.
The Serval preys on birds such as Guinea Fowl, rodents, small mammals, fish, reptiles such as snakes and lizards, and invertebrates. When preying on birds, the Serval will either catch them while they are on the ground, or will leap high into the air to catch them in flight. Unlike many cats, the Serval is happy to wade into the water and it does this when hunting for fish or frogs. When hunting for mammals such as rodents, the Serval uses its excellent hearing to locate the prey before leaping into the air and landing with its front paws on its prey. Servals will sometimes raid farms and take poultry.
The Serval has a gestation period of 70-75 days, and typically gives birth to 2-3 young, although litters of 5 or 6 have been recorded. The young are born in the den and are altricial (helpless when born). At birth they are blind, but at 1-2 weeks old, the eyes open. Servals generally give birth during the rainy season.
The Serval is not found in desert or semi-desert areas but is found in most other habitats, and is mainly found where there is a good water source. The Serval prefers areas of long grass or undergrowth that can provide it with cover.
The serval is found throughout Africa's savannah zones, including Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, across as far as Senegal, Angola, South Africa, Zambia, Namibia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
The following photographs show spoor (tracks or paw prints) from a Serval.
Photo © Tanya Trevor Saunders
Photo © Tanya Trevor Saunders
© Predator Conservation Trust.
