Caracal (Caracal caracal)

Caracal in the Serengeti. Photograph by Nick and Melissa Bake. Some rights reserved.

Description

The Caracal is an elegant cat with short reddish-brown fur on the back and sides. The chin and throat and underside are white. The Caracal has distinctive long black ears with white at the ear base, and long tufts of black fur at the tips.

Size

Total length: 83cm - 122cm. Tail length: 23cm - 31cm.

Habitat

Caracals are found in woodland, savannah, scrub forests. Caracals use abandoned burrows, rock crevices or dense vegetation for their dens.

Food

Caracals are carnivorous and prey on birds, rodents, and small antelopes. They stalk their prey before pouncing upon it. Caracals sometimes store remains of prey in tree forks or dense shrubs for later feeding.

Breeding

The female Caracal gives birth to 1 - 6 cubs (average 3) after a gestation period of 78 - 81 days. Young are weaned after 10 - 25 weeks.

Range

Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Dem. Rep. Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Malawi, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Classification Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Caracal Species: caracal

Caracal profile Photograph by € Van 3000. Some rights reserved.

A caracal in National Zoo Washington Photograph by smata2. Some rights reserved.