serval, (Felis serval), long-limbed cat, family Felidae, found in Africa south of the Sahara, especially in grass- and bush-covered country near water. A swift, agile cat, the serval climbs and leaps very well. It is a nocturnal hunter preying on birds and small mammals such as rodents and hares.

Understanding the Context

A wildlife rescue group is taking care of a wild African serval cat captured by a farmer in Missouri. Screengrab from video by Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. For months, a Missouri farmer had been ... The serval (Leptailurus serval) is a wild small cat native to Africa.

Key Insights

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. The serval (Leptailurus serval ) is a wild cat native to Africa. It is rare in North Africa and the Sahel, but widespread in sub-Saharan countries, except rainforest regions.

Final Thoughts

Serval cats range from dry open grasslands to woodland savanna and even to the moister areas around the equatorial rainforests. The Servals main habitat is the savanna, although melanistic individuals are more usually found in mountainous areas. That’s a serval, one the animals you will find in Africa. The serval (Leptailurus serval) is one of Africa’s most fascinating yet often misunderstood Africa’s wild cats. Those long legs combined with oversized ears and a spotted coat make it a symbol of perfect adaptation and stealth. Thanks to its extra-long legs, stretched-out neck, and huge ears, the serval is sometimes called the “cat of spare parts.” (If a person had ears like a serval’s, they’d be as big as dinner...

The Serval is a solitary and highly specialized predator. While many cats rely on stealthy ambushes, the Serval uses its incredible hearing to pinpoint prey. Once located, the cat performs a high, vertical "towering pounce," coming down on its victim with enough force to stun or kill it instantly.