The Natural History of Leptailurus ServalChristian Cintron, BIO 344.L05INTROCommonly referred to as African Serval or Serval cats, the Leptailurus Serval species is a medium-sized feline native to the African continent. Although it is widely distributed throughout the sub-Saharan region, it has become extinct in some locations due to human predation. These elegant creatures are known for their striking resemblance to a cheetah with beautiful fur that features spotted markings and long legs. Another distinctive feature of the serval is its large, round ears pointing forward above its head. These characteristics help the serval hunt prey giving it a relatively high success rate of around 50%. Physical Description: The serval is a placental mammal that stands quite tall at a height ranging from 54 cm to 66 cm. Its body length measures from 59 cm to 92 cm. The serval also has a relatively short tail that accounts for only about 40% of its body length, ranging between 20cm and 45cm. Female weight can range from 15 to 26 pounds. The male can weigh from 20 pounds up to 40 pounds. The Serval has a relatively small head and very distinct tall, round ears. Serval color can vary between individuals, from dirty white to dark golden yellow. More commonly, however, servals have fawn-colored fur with black stripes starting on the head and then moving to spots throughout the rest of the body. Their fur helps them blend in with the tall grass they usually roam. The ear bullae of the serval are very well developed with a total length of about 22% of the head. This gives the serval a very acute sense of hearing. Systematics and paleontology The German naturalist Jo...... middle of paper ......reeded will quickly head towards the tall grass or reeds where they can take shelter. If necessary, the African Serval can also climb trees and swim, but it is quite rare for them to do so. Sensory Modalities The African Serval has a very keen sense of hearing, which plays a crucial role in hunting prey. As stated previously, the serval has well-developed ear bullae that account for approximately 22% of the length of its head. This allows the serval to hunt its prey in the tall grass by listening to the vibrations of the moving rodents. They are even able to feel rodents underground and will dig them up. Another characteristic of the African serval is its long, thin legs that help the cat move through tall grass and reeds. Additionally, they have unusually large pasterns that aid in their ability to leap 2-3 m into the air to capture or pounce on prey..