Interesting Facts About Giraffe Cat
Interesting Facts About Giraffe Cat
2. The serval, one of 30 species of small cat, is sometimes referred to as the “Savannah Stalker” because of its superb hunting skills on the grasslands of Africa.
3. The name “serval” is believed to come from the Portuguese word lobo-cerval, meaning “lynx”.
4. Their extra-long neck and legs give them the nickname "giraffe cat”.
5. Also sometimes called a “bush cat”.
6. Servals were worshipped as gods by the ancient Egyptians who kept them as pets.
7. Native to central and southern Africa, mostly south of the Sahara Desert. Live near thickly planted streams and rivers in savannas and forests.
8. Servals are 41-61 inches (104-155 cm) long including the tail.
9. Males weigh 22-40 pounds (10-18 kg), and females weigh 19-27 pounds (8.5-12 kg).
10. They stand about 22 inches (56 cm) at the shoulder.
11. They have tawny gold fur marked with solid black spots that merge to form stripes extending from the neck down the sides of the body. The spots merge to form rings on the tail, which has a black tip.
12. Servals have long necks, long legs, small heads and the largest ears of any cat species.
13. Carnivore: Eat small mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs, crabs and large insects.
14. Small rodents are the most frequent prey item.
15. Wait in the tall grass and use their large ears to listen for approaching prey.
16. Instead of chasing down prey as a cheetah would, servals take a leap into the air and then force their body weight down onto the prey.
17. Trap their prey beneath the front paws and deliver a fatal bite to the neck.
18. Are excellent hunters-while other wild cats are successful in just 1 of every 5-6 hunting attempts, servals make a kill approximately 1 out of every 2 tries.
19. Servals are solitary cats except for mating pairs or females with kittens. They are crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) and nocturnal. Their primary forms of communication are through urine spraying and by rubbing saliva on objects.
20. Servals have long necks to help them search for prey animals in tall grass. Their long muscular legs allow them to leap nearly 10 feet in the air to strike prey with their front paws. They can leap 13 feet horizontally to pounce on prey. They are the second fastest cat and can run up to 45 mph for short distances.
21. Their large round ears help them hear extremely well to locate prey. Their ears are mobile and can be moved 180 degrees. They can hear high frequency sounds such as those made by rodents tunneling underground enabling servals to locate prey they cannot see.
22. Most cats have a background fur color that is similar to the color of their primary habitat. The spots and stripes on the serval’s tawny fur helps them blend into their surroundings and conceals them from prey animals as they move through the tall grass on the savannas of Africa. There are a few melanistic (black) servals that have adapted to higher altitudes in Kenya.
23. Crepuscular: Are most active at dawn and dusk to avoid the heat of the day, although they do hunt at night when needed.
24. Unlike many other cat species, servals love to climb, leap and play in water.
25. Even though each male's home range may overlap those of several females, servals live separately most of the year.
26. Adults scent mark trees and bushes with a spray of urine to mark their territory.
27. In the wild, female servals in overlapping ranges are often related to one another.
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28. The serval has the longest legs (in proportion to their bodies) and biggest ears of any cat species.29. Servals can hear high frequency sounds made by rodents moving underground.
30. Individual servals can be identified by the unique pattern of spots, stripes and rings on their fur because no two servals have exactly the same markings.
31. Servals are successful at hunting about 50% of the time-a higher success rate than lions.
32. Servals have been seen jumping as high as ten feet in the air knocking down a startled bird in one fell swoop.
33. Major threats to the serval are man as they are still mercilessly hunted for food and for pelts. Their body parts continue to be used in tribal ceremonies and in some cases eaten to satisfy ancient medicinal beliefs. Habitat destruction also plays a role in their decline.
34. Have the longest legs and largest ears for its body size of any cat- if we had ears in the same proportion to our head as servals do, they would be the size of dinner plates.
35. As servals use their large ears to pinpoint the location of prey, they seldom hunt on extremely windy days.
36. Sometimes “play with” their food if prey are not immediately killed -rats, mice and birds are tossed in the air while snakes are allowed to scurry away before being caught again.
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