Serval (Leptailurus serval) Fact Sheet: Summary

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family: Felidae

Subfamily: Felinae

Genus: Leptailurus

Species: Leptailurus serval (Schreber, 1776)

Subspecies: Leptailurus serval serval (Schreber, 1777)
Subspecies: *Leptailurus serval constantina (Forster, 1780)
Subspecies: *Leptailurus serval lipostictus (Pocock, 1907)

*Likely distinct but may be synonyms of L. s. serval. Further research needed.

Body Weight:
Male 9-18 kg (20-40 lb);
Female 9-12 kg (20-26 lb)

Body Length: 59-92 cm (23-36 in)

Tail Length: 20-38 cm (8-15 in)

Pelage: Pale yellow fur; solid black spots on sides; bars or bands on neck and shoulders; tail with black bands; tip black.

Range: Wide distribution, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa; small, isolated populations north of Sahara.

Habitat: Grasslands bordering rivers and lakes.

IUCN Status: Least Concern (2014 assessment)

CITES Appendix: Appendix II

Locomotion: Secures prey with fox-like, stiff-legged bouncing jumps, all four feet off ground at once. Can leap a span 4 m (13 ft). Climbs trees when chased.

Activity Cycle: Active dawn and dusk (crepuscular); also nocturnal. Inactive 40% of time in some locations; patterns vary with habitats.

Social Groups: Solitary.

Diet: Mainly eat small rodents; also consume frogs, crabs,small birds, snakes, lizards, shrews, and insects.

Predators: Hyenas and leopards.

Sexual Maturity: 1-2 years

Gestation: c. 74 days

Litter Size: 1-3 most often; 5 very rarely

Birth weight: 250 g (c. 9 oz)

Age at Weaning: 4-5 months

Typical Life Expectancy:
Wild populations: about 12-17 years
Managed care: median life expectancy of about 14 years

Feature Facts:

• Very efficient predators; in a typical year a single serval captures around 4,000 rodents, 260 snakes, and 130 birds.
• Found primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa, but small populations recently found north of the Sahara.
• Longest legs relative to body size of any other cat species. Well suited for hunting in tall grass, not for speed.
• Most often found solitary exception of mothers with offspring and temporary association of males with females during mating
• San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance currently cares for 12 Serval at the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.