Serval Leptailarus Serval
Credit:HDW Enterprises

The serval is a long-legged cat with a body size up to 0.67-1m in length and about 54-62cm in shoulder height. Its weight varies from 9 to 13kg. The base color of its fur is sandy or reddish brown and is covered with dark, almost black spots in rows which sometimes merge into stripes down its back and legs. Noticeable regional variation in markings are shown. Servals from wetter areas show finer markings, while those from drier regions have larger and bolder spotted markings. The serval has a small but long head and large rounded ears marked with alternating black and white stripes on the rear. It uses these prominent stripe markings to communicate with others of its species.

The serval is found in most parts of Africa excluding the arid desert regions, part of South-western Africa and certain areas of the tropical rain forests in Central Africa. The serval's habitat ranges from dry open grasslands throughout woodland savanna to the moister areas and grassy uplands of Central Africa's mountainous regions up to 3,500m. Although its range covers a large proportion of the African continent, the cat is closely associated with water and therefore populations are fragmented.

Throughout much of its range, the serval is a crepuscular hunter. However, in Serengeti, the cat was observed hunting by day. This is probably associated with the activity period of its prey in this region. The serval feeds mostly on smaller mammals such as birds, hare, rodents, including mole rats and ground squirrels, although it is powerful enough to kill young antelopes. In the wetter areas of the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania frogs make a large proportion of the serval's diet but this is considered to be a localized preference.

The serval is a specialized hunter and has particularly sophisticated hearing to assist it in its task of pinpointing its small prey. The auditory bullae and pinnae are considerably enlarged for a better detecting of the ultrasonic high frequencies omitted by rodents. The long legs of the serval also serve to aid prey detection, enabling the cat to see over the tall savanna grasses for signs of movement. The serval hunts by speed and is often observed giving a characteristic vertical leap to pounce down directly onto its unsuspecting quarry. In short bursts the cat is also able to reach high speed and is capable of jumping up to 10 feet of the ground to catch birds.

As many as fourteen subspecies of the serval have been named. This classification is now in question and many of the subspecies are often lumped together into L.s. serval, reducing the number to seven: L.s. brachyurus (Sierra Leone), L.s. constantina (Morocco, Algeria), L.s. hindei (Kenya, Tanzania), L.s. liptositictus (Uganda to Angola), L.s. phillispi (Ethiopia), L.s. serval (Tanzania to Cape Province), L.s. tanae (Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia). The serval has been hunted throughout its range for its attractive coat and locally as a source of meat. As a result, a Northern form, L.s.constantinus, is considered to be endangered. In general the animal is protected in most countries and is listed in CITES Appendix 2 as threatened.