| Kingdom -> | Animalia |
| Phylum -> | Chordata |
| Class -> | Mammalia |
| Order -> | |
| Family -> | |
| Genus -> | |
| Species -> | . |
The serval is a medium-sized wild cat native to Africa. It is closely related to the caracal and the African golden cat. They are characterized by their golden-yellow fur with black spots and stripes, long legs, and a small head with large ears.
Servals are medium-sized cats, with a body length of 67–100 cm (26–39 in) and a shoulder height of about 54–66 cm (21–26 in). They typically weigh between 8 and 18 kg (18 and 40 lb). The serval has a distinctive golden-yellow coat with black spots and stripes, and long legs relative to its body size. The head is small in relation to the body, and has large ears that can rotate up to 180 degrees. The serval's eyes are also large and positioned towards the front of the head, giving it binocular vision and depth perception, which is important for hunting.
Servals are found in a variety of habitats in Africa, including savannas, grasslands, and forests. They are most commonly found in areas with water, such as wetlands and riverbanks. They are distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal to Ethiopia in the east, and south to South Africa.
Servals are primarily nocturnal, but may also be active during the day. They are solitary animals, except during the breeding season. Serval diet includes a variety of prey such as rodents, birds, reptiles, and insects. They are also known to hunt larger prey such as small antelopes, hares, and hyraxes. They are successful hunters due to their agility, speed, and ability to jump up to 3 meters in the air.
The serval is listed as a species of Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, their populations are threatened by habitat loss and hunting for their fur and meat. Serval fur is used for traditional clothing and is also sold as exotic pets in some countries. Serval populations are also threatened by the decline of their prey species and the destruction of wetland habitats.