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The serval (Leptailurus serval) is a slender, medium-sized cat with long legs, a long neck, and a small head. Characterized by its spotted and striped coat and black-tipped tail, it also has the longest legs of any cat relative to its body size.
See the fact file below for more information on the Serval, or you can download our 33-page Serval worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
ETYMOLOGY
- The word “serval” is derived from the prefix (lobo-) cerval.
- In 1765, Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon used the Portuguese word lobo-cerval, which comes from the Latin lupus cervarius “lynx”, which means “wolf” and “of or relating to deer,” to refer to a spotted cat held at the time in the Royal Menagerie in Versailles.
- The Greek words leptos, meaning “fin or delicate,” and ailouros, which means “cat,” are the origins of the name Leptailurus.
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION
- The serval is frequently referred to as a “bush cat” in Africa, and among Africans (South Africans), it is called a “tierboskat,” which means “tiger bush cat.”
TAXONOMY
- In 1776, German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber first described servals.
- The serval’s scientific name was Felis serval, but Russian scientist Nikolai Severtzov changed the genus name to Leptailurus in 1858.
- The two species of servals, Felis serval (serval) and Felis servalina (servaline cat) were discovered in the 19th and 20th centuries based on their fur patterns.
- Large, distinct markings were present on the F. serval, whereas F. servalina had spots the size of freckles.
ANATOMY AND CHARACTERISTICS
- Servals are medium-sized cats that can reach lengths of up to 1 m (40 inches) and 30 cm (1 foot) to the tail.
- The serval’s long legs allow this skinny cat to stand roughly 20 inches tall at the shoulder.
- Males typically weigh 9-18 kg, while females are 9-12 kg. Compared to females, males are slightly bigger and sturdier.
- The pale yellow coat of adults has black dots (and black bars on the shoulders and long neck).
- Black lines surround the tail, which also has a black tip.
- The color of kittens is similar to adults (litters contain two to three kittens).
BEHAVIOR
- Servals hunt in the early morning and late afternoon, occasionally resting at night and throughout the day.
- Hunting movement covers a distance of roughly 2.4 km each day and half that distance at night. The amount of hunting activity decreases in the dry season.
- Servals are best hidden in tall grass and slink through open spaces until they find cover.
- Multiple territorial marking behaviors are all intensified in the presence or detection of another serval. There are several ways to mark, including spraying urine, defecating on the ground or brush, rubbing the smell gland-filled side of the face, and marking or scratching the ground.
- Male servals are frequently thought to be more affectionate than females, and females are typically more hostile to people and other cats.
COMMUNICATION AND PERCEPTION
- Servals are solitary creatures that only come into contact with other servals of the same species while mating, caring for offspring, or engaging in territorial conflict.
- Adults only use scent marks from their urine and cheek glands to communicate chemically. A male that was trailing a female marked 566 times for four hours, which is the most markings ever recorded.
REPRODUCTION
- Servals are solitary creatures unless they are in the process of reproducing. They are polygynous, and for optimum reproduction, the males’ territories overlap with those of the most significant number of females.
- Although there is no fixed period for breeding, spring is the season when mating is most frequent.
- Several days before entering oestrus, a female who is about ready to breed will hunt and court the male. One day is the minimum duration of oestrus.
- Female servals give birth to two to three kittens after a gestation period of 10 to 11 weeks.
- In their first 11 days, these newborns, who weigh roughly 250g at birth, double in size. By the time they are five months old and six months old, they are weaned.
- Young servals stay with their mother for up to a year before being expelled to locate their own area. For males, setting up a new territory takes one to two years. Kittens reach sexual maturity between 18 and 24 months after becoming independent.
- Female servals probably search for suitable dens to rear their offspring after mating. A mother’s actions shift to accommodate her children because she must forage for them and herself. Males don’t take care of the kittens as parents do.
FOOD HABITS
- Servals frequently hunt at night and in the morning since they are crepuscular animals. They eat primarily small mammals (rats, mice, and shrews), 5% birds, and occasionally insects, frogs, lizards, and very rarely carrion.
- Compared to other members of the Felidae family, they have a greater hunting success rate of 48%. This success rate was seen in both wild and successfully reintroduced servals.
- Servals initially assess the area before starting to hunt. The best hunting locations are along roads or trails, where there is clear visibility from all directions and little noise is created when moving around. Their large, slightly cupped ears liven up and rotate to locate their prey if a meal is sensed. Servals slink forward once the location of their prey has been determined. Their front feet land on the victim when they pounce between 1 and 4 meters away.
- Servals rummage, dig and sniff to find or flush out prey if it can be heard under the ground. Servals find it more challenging to catch birds and insects.
- If the prey is not immediately killed, servals “play with” their food.
- Rats, mice, and birds are usually tossed in the air by the servals before they kill and eat them.
HABITAT
- In reed beds and grasslands, which are mostly made up of Themeda triandra, servals are most frequently found.
- Servals are widespread in savannas with an abundance of water.
- They can be found in bamboo thickets and high-altitude moorlands, but they prefer areas of shrub, tall grass, and dry reed beds near streams.
- Within the serval’s range, the average annual temperature is 13.7 Β°C, and there is 826 mm of rain per year.
DISTRIBUTION
- Although they are common over the continent of Africa, servals today mostly live in southern Africa, particularly in Zimbabwe and the Natal area.
- Smaller populations can be found in the Atlas Mountains, where distributions were more widespread before 1980.
- Algeria, Morocco, Ethiopia, and the regions south of the Sahara have all been reported to harbor African servals. This species is currently present in northern Tanzania due to relocation efforts.
PREDATION AND LIFESPAN
- The only significant predators of servals are humans.
- The most likely rivals for prey and territory are leopards and hyenas. Servals escape in bewildering, darting leaps when they realize they are near their opponents.
- Servals are estimated to live for 10 years in the wild. It is claimed that the longest-living wild serval was 23 years old. In captivity, servals have a 22.4-year lifespan on average.
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
- Servals are predators that may inhibit the growth of their victims (small mammals). It’s possible that leftover meals and feces can can act as fertilizer. Antibodies to the parasite Toxoplasma gondii have been discovered in the blood of servals, who are hosts to the protozoan parasite.
- The exotic pet trade includes servals. Savannah, a type of domestic cat, is a combination between servals and tabbies.
- Chiefs of indigenous tribes wear mantles made from the expensive serval pelt. Servals may promote ecotourism, widespread in Tanzania, where most servals are found.
CULTURE
- Since the time of the ancient Egyptians, humans have been associated with serval cats and they are portrayed in their artwork.
- In Egyptian art, servals are portrayed as gifts or commodities from Nubia.
- Servals are occasionally kept as pets, although they have never been fully domesticated, meaning that ownership of servals is restricted in some nations.
CONSERVATION
- The habitat for servals and their prey has been diminished by expanding human populations and agricultural expansion.
- Serval flesh is an incredibly nutritious meal, which can encourage the hunting of animals.
- Despite having little effect on their crops, farmers frequently shoot servals on the spot.
- Attempts have been made to reintroduce servals raised in captivity, but doing so too close to human habitations has proven challenging.
- The subspecies Leptailurus serval constantina is categorized as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), although servals are considered a species of most minor concern.
Serval Worksheets
This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Serval across 33 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Serval, a slender, medium-sized cat with long legs, a long neck, and a small head.
Complete List of Included Worksheets
Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.
- Serval Facts
- Describing A Serval
- Nice Or Trash?
- CATch Words
- SERVALook-Alike
- Servals LoCATion
- Weβre Different
- Servals Servings
- Best Spots
- Copy The Cat
- Magical Scent
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Serval?
The Serval is a medium-sized carnivorous mammal native to Africa, known for its distinctive spotted coat and long legs. It is a solitary animal that is most active during the night. The Serval is known for its exceptional jumping ability, with the ability to jump up to 10 feet in the air to catch prey. It is also an excellent swimmer and has been observed diving into the water to catch fish.
What does the Serval eat?
The Serval is a carnivore and primarily feeds on small mammals, birds, and reptiles. It is an opportunistic hunter, meaning it will take advantage of whatever prey is available and has been known to hunt everything from hares to flamingos. It uses its keen senses of hearing and vision, along with its agility, to stalk and catch its prey.
Are Servals endangered?
The Serval is listed as a species of “Least Concern” by the IUCN Red List, but some populations are threatened by habitat loss and hunting for their fur. Servals are also sometimes hunted for their meat, as well as for traditional medicine purposes. Conservation efforts are underway to protect Servals and their habitats, but more work is needed to ensure their long-term survival.
Where do Servals live?
Servals are found in grasslands, savannas, and wetlands of sub-Saharan Africa. They are adaptable and can live in a variety of habitats, from arid deserts to dense forests. However, their preferred habitats are areas with dense cover for stalking prey and access to water sources.
How long do Servals live in the wild?
Servals can live up to 12 years in the wild, although the average lifespan is typically shorter due to predation and disease. In captivity, Servals can live up to 16 years with proper care and nutrition. Overall, the Serval is a resilient species that has been able to thrive in a wide range of habitats and conditions.
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Use With Any Curriculum
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