serval
Sign in to saveThe serval (Leptailurus serval) is a wild small cat native to Africa. It is widespread in sub-Saharan countries, where it inhabits grasslands, wetlands, moorlands and bamboo thickets. Across its range, it occurs in protected areas, and hunting it is either prohibited or regulated in range countries.
AI overview
The serval is a small wild cat native to Africa that lives in open grasslands, wetlands, and similar habitats across sub-Saharan regions. Because it is found in protected areas and legally protected or regulated throughout its range, it represents an example of a species whose conservation is actively managed by African countries.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Taxonomy · GBIF
UNRANKED
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumArthropoda
- ClassInsecta
- OrderColeoptera
- FamilyMordellidae
via GBIF · CC0
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Subclass of
- Felidae
- Parent taxon
- Leptailurus
- Image
- Leptailurus serval ssp. serval.jpg
Show 6 more facts
Article
13 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Taxonomy
- Phylogeny
- Hybrid
- Characteristics
- Distribution and habitat
- Behaviour and ecology
- Hunting and diet
- Reproduction
- Conservation
- In culture
- References
- External links
The serval (Leptailurus serval) is a wild small cat native to Africa. It is widespread in sub-Saharan countries, where it inhabits grasslands, wetlands, moorlands and bamboo thickets. Across its range, it occurs in protected areas, and hunting it is either prohibited or regulated in range countries.
It is the sole member of the genus Leptailurus. Three subspecies are recognised. The serval is a slender, medium-sized cat that stands tall at the shoulder and has a weight range of approximately . It is characterised by a small head, large ears, a golden-yellow to buff coat spotted and striped with black, and a short, black-tipped tail. The serval has the longest legs of any cat relative to its body size.