Serval: Felis serval
Characteristics
Weight and Height
males: wt 22-40 lb (10-18 kg), ht 22-25 in (54-62 cm)
females: wt 19-27.5 lb (8.7-12.5 kg), ht 22-25 in (54-62 cm)
Color
Russet to tawny; Tends to have darker coloring in moister regions of Africa; stripes and spots on neck, shoulders, tail, and legs; black and white ears
General Locations
In most African savanna region, especially where grasses and rodents are abundant. Serval avoid rainforest and subdesert regions.
The serval can be found in Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Ndutu in Tanzania.
Habitat
The serval prefers montane grassland, forest glades, and marshlands which border significant water sources. The serval is considered a specialized predator that commonly feeds on birds, rats, mice, and other rodents found in tall grasses. The serval will also feed on snakes, lizards, frogs, fish, and insects. The serval's long legs enables it to jump high and to see over tall grasses that other species cannot.
Activity
The serval is considered a nocturnal and diurnal animal, but is most often seen being active during the day. The activity peaks are generally early in the morning and late in the day because the serval prefers cooler temperatures while searching for food. On average, a serval will travel up to 1.2 mi (2 km) in one day.
Reproduction
The gestation period is 65 to 75 days and there are general birth peaks. A serval will have anywhere from 1 to 5 young per litter.
Predators
Hyena and wild dog.
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