🐆 SERVAL: THE LEAPING CAT
PAGE 1 OF 5 — THE SPOTTED CAT
LEPTAILURUS SERVAL
AFRICA'S LEAPING WILDCAT
The serval is a medium-sized wild cat found across much of sub-Saharan Africa, especially in grasslands, wetlands, and reed beds near water. Its scientific name is Leptailurus serval. Servals have slim bodies, long necks, and the longest legs relative to body size of any cat. Their golden fur is covered in bold black spots and stripes that help them vanish in tall grass. Unlike lions that chase prey in groups, servals usually hunt alone. They are most active around dawn and dusk when rodents and birds are busy. This spotted athlete is one of Africa's most precise small predators.
⚡ DID YOU KNOW?
Servals are not mini cheetahs. They belong to their own genus, Leptailurus, and are built for listening and pouncing rather than long sprints.
SPOT!
RADAR EARS
👂 Serval ears are enormous and can swivel to pin down the tiniest rustle in the grass.
📡 For its body size, no other cat has bigger ears than the serval.
📡 For its body size, no other cat has bigger ears than the serval.
LEGS
🦵 Long springy legs let a serval see over tall grass and launch high into the air.
🎨 Bold spots break up its outline so prey struggle to spot it while it waits.
🎨 Bold spots break up its outline so prey struggle to spot it while it waits.