caracal
Sign in to saveThe caracal (Caracal caracal; ) is a wild cat native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and arid areas of Pakistan and northwestern India. It is characterised by a robust build, long legs, a short face, long tufted ears, relatively short tail, and long canine teeth. Its coat is uniformly reddish tan or sandy, while the ventral parts are lighter with small reddish markings. It reaches at the shoulder and weighs . It was first scientifically described by German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber in 1776. Three subspecies are recognised.
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The caracal is a wild cat found across Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of South Asia, recognizable by its robust build, long legs, tufted ears, and reddish-tan coat. Though relatively little-known compared to other big cats, it represents an important part of its native ecosystems and has been studied by scientists since its formal description in the 18th century.
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15 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Taxonomy and phylogeny
- Phylogeny
- Characteristics
- Distribution and habitat
- Ecology and behaviour
- Diet and hunting
- Reproduction
- Threats
- Conservation
- In culture
- See also
- Notes
- References
- External links
The caracal (Caracal caracal; ) is a wild cat native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and arid areas of Pakistan and northwestern India. It is characterised by a robust build, long legs, a short face, long tufted ears, relatively short tail, and long canine teeth. Its coat is uniformly reddish tan or sandy, while the ventral parts are lighter with small reddish markings. It reaches at the shoulder and weighs . It was first scientifically described by German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber in 1776. Three subspecies are recognised.
Typically nocturnal, the caracal is highly secretive and difficult to observe. It is territorial, and lives mainly alone or in pairs. The caracal is a carnivore that typically preys upon birds, rodents, and other small mammals. It can leap higher than and catch birds in midair. It stalks its prey until it is within of it, after which it runs it down and kills it with a bite to the throat or to the back of the neck. Both sexes become sexually mature by the time they are one year old and breed throughout the year. Gestation lasts between two and three months, resulting in a litter of one to six kittens. Juveniles leave their mothers at the age of nine to ten months, though a few females stay back with their mothers. The average lifespan of captive caracals is nearly 16 years.