Scientific Name:
Leptailurus serval
Distribution
Central to SW Africa
Diet:
Carnivore. Small mammals, especially rodents, birds, snakes, lizards, frogs, crabs, insects.
Facts
Habitat: Savannas, grasslands, marshes
Dimensions: 92cm
Weight: 7-13.5kg
Gestation: 74 days, 1-4 young
Lifespan: ~10
Social structure: Solitary, females with their young.
Estimated population in the wild: Common
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Threats: Habitat loss and degradation, hunting for their pelt.
Did you know that:
- Their long legs help them achieve a top speed of 80km/h, and they can pounce 3.6m as well as leap 2-3m in the air to catch birds and insects.
- Strong wings disrupt its ability to hear and locate prey, so on windy days they typically do not hunt.