This
is a slender, long legged, wildcat with a small head and large ears
designed to capture and kill small prey in long grass. It is a
specialist at catching small mammals such as rodents. The
serval is a medium-sized wildcat. Its head-body length is
59-92 cms (23-36 ins), with a height to the shoulder of about
54-66 cms (21-26 ins). Its weight ranges from about 7-12 kgms (15-26
lbs) for females, and from 9-18 kilograms (20-40 lbs) for males3...continued below the video...
Serval description....The
notable feature is the leg length relative to the overall body size.
The tail is relatively short. Savannah
cat breeders try and replicate
the shortened tail (the Savannah cat is a serval/domestic
catwildcat
hybrid).
The serval coat is similar to that of the cheetah
and both cats have
rangy bodies. However the cheetah is considerably larger. The serval,
as mentioned, is of medium size. The video above gives a good
impression of
size.
The pattern consists of a series of dense, high contrast, generally
large, black dots, sometimes jointed up to form a line, against a
tawny, yellow background. The black spots are smallest at the
shoulders, neck and face.
The outside of the ear
flaps have a large white spot outlined in
black - the ocelli.
You will encounter black or melanistic servals in the Kenyan and
Ethiopian highlands. Melanistic
cats, although black, have faint ghost
patterns. A survey in the Aberdare highlands of Kenya indicated that
about 60% were melanistic at heights above sea level of 2,440-2,745
metres1.
The serval is built for height and not speed although it can reach 50
mph. Prey is caught through the use of its large oval ears and long
legs. Armed with these atributes the serval can scan the long grass
for prey, hear it and then leap up and down onto it. Its long toes and
claws enable this cat to hook up prey and dig them out of burrows.
The serval
is 20 cms taller than the similarly sized ocelot
and 12 cms taller than the caracal.
The serval's small head results in a less strong bite, which is designed
for killing small prey2.
Serval description: References:
1. York W. A study of
serval melanism in the Aberdares and some general behavior information
as referred to in Wild Cats of the World by Mel and Fiona Sunquist.
2. Rosevar DR 1974, The
carnivores of West Africa referred to in Wild Cats of the
World by Mel and Fiona Sunquist.
3. Sunquist, Mel; Sunquist,
Fiona (2002). Wild cats of the World. Chicago:
University of Chicago Press. pp. 142-151.
ISBN 0-226-77999-8.
4. Leyhausen P 1979. Cat Behavior: The
predatory and social behavior of domestic and wild cats.
by Mel and Fiona Sunquist.