# Serval (*Leptailurus serval*) The serval is a tall, slender wild cat from Africa. It has long legs and big ears, perfect for hearing its prey in the grass. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Grasslands and savannas ![Serval](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424245/objects/4506.jpg) ## Appearance The Serval is a slender, medium-sized cat with incredibly long legs and a short tail. It has a distinctive coat of large black spots and stripes on a golden-yellow to tawny background. Its most striking feature is its very large, oval ears. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Felidae - **Genus:** Leptailurus ## Interesting facts - Each serval's spotted coat pattern is unique, just like a human fingerprint! - Servals have the longest legs of any cat relative to their body size! - Some servals have a completely black coat, known as melanism or melanistic! - These amazing cats are surprisingly good swimmers and can even catch fish! ## Special abilities - **Super Listener:** Serval can pinpoint tiny sounds of prey in tall grass or underground because of its massive, independently swiveling ears. - **Vertical Leap:** Serval can jump over 9 feet high because of its powerful leg muscles, helping it snatch birds mid-flight. - **Tall Stalker:** Serval has incredibly long legs that help them see over tall savanna grasses while hunting for small animals. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 60-100 cm - **Weight:** 7-18 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-12 years - **Speed:** 80 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-5 - **Gestation:** 66-77 days ## Diet & Feeding Servals mostly eat small rodents, birds, and insects, making them skilled savanna hunters! - **Primary Foods:** rodents, birds, frogs, insects, reptiles, fish - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Multimammate mouse (*Mastomys natalensis*) — Primary small mammal prey. - **Hunts:** Kori Bustard (*Ardeotis kori*) — May prey on large ground birds. - **Eaten by:** African Rock Python (*Python sebae*) — Young servals may be hunted. - **Eaten by:** Lion (*Panthera leo*) — Apex predator that can kill servals. - **Eaten by:** Humans (*Homo sapiens*) — Hunted for fur or bushmeat. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Servals are wild animals and should be respected from a distance. Always enjoy watching them safely! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Serval? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Serval? 60-100 cm ### How much does Serval weigh? 7-18 kg ### How long does Serval live? 10-12 years ### How fast can Serval move? 80 km/h ### What does Serval eat? Servals mostly eat small rodents, birds, and insects, making them skilled savanna hunters! ### Where is Serval usually found? Grasslands and savannas ### How does Serval hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Long Island Game Farm](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/long-island-game-farm) — New York, US · Zoo - [Lupa Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lupa-zoo) — Massachusetts, US · Zoo - [Drusillas Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/drusillas-park) — England, GB · Zoo - [Kentucky Down Under](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kentucky-down-under) — Kentucky, US · Zoo - [Triangle Metro Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/triangle-metro-zoo) — North Carolina, US · Zoo - [Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/folsom-city-zoo-sanctuary) — California, US · Zoo [View all places to see Serval](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/serval) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Serval: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/serval)