The serval is a medium-sized African wild cat renowned for the highest hunting success rate of any wild cat — catching prey on nearly 50% of attempts, compared to 20–25% for lions. Its extraordinarily long legs and enormous ears are finely tuned for detecting and leaping onto small prey in tall grass. Servals are solitary and largely nocturnal, hunting rodents, birds, and frogs in wetland-adjacent grasslands across sub-Saharan Africa.
About the Serval
Leptailurus serval
Advertisement
⚡ Speed Comparison
📸 Photo Gallery
💡 Fun Facts
01
Servals have the longest legs relative to body size of any cat species, allowing them to leap 3.6 meters horizontally and 1.5 meters vertically.
02
Their ears are the largest, relative to head size, of any African cat — and can rotate 180 degrees independently.
03
The serval achieves the highest kill rate of any wild cat, succeeding in roughly 50% of hunts.
04
They can jump straight up 2 meters to knock birds out of the air.
05
Servals are the wild ancestor of the domestic Savannah cat breed.
📍 Where to Find This Animal
Habitat Types:
Savanna Grassland
🛒 Serval Related Gear
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Join the Conversation
Share your thoughts about the Serval