Serval: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Wild Cats · day 7 of 7

Five facts

1. For its body size, the serval has longer legs than any other cat, thanks to very long bones in its feet.
2. Each of its big ears can swivel up to 180 degrees on its own, helping it pinpoint prey hidden in the grass.
3. It can stay perfectly still for up to 15 minutes, listening. When a rodent comes close, it leaps and lands on it with its front paws.
4. Servals are skilled hunters. In one study in Ngorongoro they caught prey on half of their tries, and one mother managed 62%.
5. Rival servals rarely fight. Instead, one may lay a paw on its rival's chest and stare at it closely.

The quiz

1. What makes the serval's legs special among cats?

• They are the shortest
• They are the longest for its size (correct)
• They have no claws
• They are webbed for swimming

Relative to its body, no cat has longer legs.

2. How far can each of a serval's ears turn on its own?

• Not at all
• About 10 degrees
• Up to 180 degrees (correct)
• A full 720 degrees

Each ear can rotate up to 180 degrees independently to locate prey.

3. How long can a serval stay motionless while waiting for prey?

• Up to 15 minutes (correct)
• Only 2 seconds
• Three whole days
• A full week

It waits still for up to 15 minutes before it pounces.

4. In the Ngorongoro study, how often did servals catch their prey?

• Never
• Once in 100 tries
• Once in 20 tries
• About half the time (correct)

They succeeded in half of their hunting attempts.

5. What may a serval do when it meets a rival?

• Place a paw on its chest (correct)
• Share its food
• Roll in the mud
• Climb on its back

One serval may rest a paw on the other's chest, and it rarely turns into a fight.

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