Serval

SERVAL (Leptailurus serval)

Shoulder Height:	60cm with a short tail of only 25-38cm long
Mass: (Female)	7-12 kg
(Male)	9-18 kg
Appearance:	Boldly spotted black with 2-4 stripes that run from the top of the head down the neck and back and then transition into spots
Gestation:	68-72 days
Breeding Period:	Summer months
Litter size:	1 - 5 kittens
Life span:	19 years

 

Description:

The serval is a medium-sized cat that occurs vastly across Africa south of the Sahara desert. It is a strongly built, yet slender looking cat that measures 60cm at shoulder height, with a short tail of only 25-38cm long. Females can weigh anything from 7-12 kg and males 9-18 kg. The pattern on the fur differs from animal to animal, but is mostly a boldly spotted black with 2-4 stripes that run from the top of the head down the neck and back and then transition into spots. It has large rounded ears and each ear has two black bands separated by a white patch at the back. The short tail is black banded and tipped. The serval is easily recognizable from leopards and cheetahs in that it is much smaller and also has a much smaller tail and larger ears.

Habitat:

The habitat of the serval is usually environments with water, adjacent tall grassland, reed-beds and rank vegetation fringing the forest.

Habits:

They are mainly nocturnal animals, meaning they are mostly active during the night but they are also active early morning and late afternoon. They are usually solitary animals but will sometimes be in pairs or in a family group. The serval's diet consists mainly of small mammals like the vlei rat, cane rats, hares, birds, reptiles, insects and even the young of smaller antelope species like the duiker.

Breeding:

The serval reproduces mainly in the summer months after a gestation period of 68-72 days. In the summer months prey is abundant so it is beneficial for them to have kittens during this time of the year. They can have anything from 1-5 kittens at a time, although the average is generally 1-3. Kittens weigh about 200g. The kittens are mostly born in in thick vegetation or burrows dug out by other species.

Conservation:

Servals have dwindled in numbers due to human population taking over their habitat and poachers hunting them for their pelts. The serval is still classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a least concern species, which means there is no immediate threat to them becoming endangered in the near future.

Reference:

Stuart, C & Stuart, T. 2007. Field guide to mammals of southern Africa. Struik Nature,Cape Town, p170, p232

African tales about Servals:

~ How Serval got his Spots
A Ndebele fable

In the beginning Serval used to be the same tawny colour as Lion, but he was much smaller and nowhere near as strong.  The other animals often teased him, calling him “Lion’s Little Cousin.”

Serval dreamed of having a magnificent coat like Leopard or Zebra.  If he could not be big and strong, then he could at least be handsome.

One day Serval was going about his daily hunt when he met Puff Adder.

“Oh kind Serval,” pleaded Puff Adder, “I am feeling very ill and none of the other animals will help me.”

“No wonder!” exclaimed Serval.  “You are such a nasty creature that all animals go in fear of you.  But because you are ill, I will help you just this once.  However you must promise to keep your fangs to yourself!”
Puff Adder willingly agreed to be on his best behaviour, so Serval took him home and looked after him.  It took a long time for Puff Adder to get better as he was indeed very ill.  Thanks mainly to Serval’s care and attention, he eventually recovered.

Before Puff Adder left, he thanked Serval for his kindness.  To show his gratitude he said, “I will give you anything within my power in return for your kindness.”

Serval replied, “There is nothing I would like more than a beautiful coat.”

“That I can do,” answered Puff adder.  “I will have to bite you, but do not feat that my venom will harm you.  It will only be a very small amount.”

So Puff Adder bit Serval carefully.  Though it made Serval feel a bit sick, he quickly recovered.  Soon his skin broke out in a rash and his tawny coat changed to a golden colour mottled with black spots.  Serval was overjoyed.  He was now one of the most handsome creatures in the bush!

As a sign of respect for one another, Puff Adder and Serval do not trouble each other to this day.


Bibliography

- Greaves, N. (1993) When hippo was hairy. Struik Nature: Cape Town. pp. 18 – 22

- Stuart, C & Stuart, T. 2007. Field guide to mammals of southern Africa. Struik Nature: Cape Town. pp. 170 & 232