The serval has the longest legs relative to body size of any cat and ears that are enormous in proportion to its head. Both features serve the same purpose: seeing and hearing small prey moving through grass taller than the cat itself.
Its hunting success rate is among the highest recorded for any felid, which is possible because its prey is small, abundant and located acoustically rather than visually.
Size and measurements
| Head-body length | 2 ft 2 in – 3 ft 3 in (67–100 cm) |
|---|---|
| Tail length | 9 in – 18 in (24–45 cm) |
| Shoulder height | 21 in – 2 ft 2 in (54–66 cm) |
| Body weight | 15–40 lb (7–18 kg) — Males average about 11 kg, females about 9.7 kg. |
| Top recorded speed | Not reliably measured — Rarely measured; the serval is known for leaping rather than for sprinting. |
| Lifespan in the wild | 10–12 years |
| Lifespan under human care | 20–23 years |
Habitat and range
Well-watered grassland, reedbeds, marsh edges and moist savanna. The species depends on tall vegetation and permanent water, and avoids dry open plains.
Widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, with a small and threatened remnant in Morocco and Algeria in the north.
Diet and hunting
Vlei rats and other rodents supply most of the diet, along with frogs, lizards, insects and birds taken in flight.
Hunting strategy — Acoustic location and vertical pounce. The cat stands still, rotates its ears to pinpoint rustling, then leaps up and forward, striking downward with both forepaws.
Behaviour and activity
Solitary. Adults hold overlapping ranges centred on wetland; individuals are more tolerant of one another than most solitary cats where prey is abundant.
Crepuscular and nocturnal. Two clear activity peaks around dawn and dusk, with additional night-time hunting; servals rest in dense grass during the heat of the day.
Climbing and swimming
Climbing — Capable. Climbs competently but spends almost all its time on the ground.
Swimming — Capable. Comfortable in shallow water and marsh, wading through flooded grassland while hunting.
Conservation status
The Serval is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, with a population trend recorded as stable in the assessment published in 2015.
Secure across much of sub-Saharan Africa, though wetland drainage removes the habitat it depends on, and the North African population is critically small.
Documented threats
- Wetland drainage and conversion
- Grassland burning regimes
- Killing for skins used in ceremonial dress
- Trade as exotic pets and for hybrid breeding
- Loss of North African populations
Look up the current Red List assessment for Leptailurus serval
Notable traits
- A serval can leap roughly ten feet in a single bound to catch a bird taking off.
- Its legs are proportionally the longest of any cat, an adaptation to seeing over tall grass.
- Recorded hunting success rates in some studies approach one kill for every two attempts, unusually high for a felid.
Sources for this profile
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Global assessment categories, population trends and documented threats.
- IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group Species accounts, distribution notes and Cat News reporting for every wild felid.
- Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation Dedicated research and field reporting on the lesser-known felids.
- Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Body measurements, longevity records and life-history notes.
- Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Reviewed species accounts with morphometric ranges and reproductive data.