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| Caracal | ||
|---|---|---|
 Caracal caracal (Schreber, 1776) | ||
| Information | ||
| Range |
Africa, Middle East, Central and South Asia | |
| Estimated Population |
Least Concern | |
| Scientific Classification | ||
| Kingdom |
Animalia | |
| Phylum |
Chordata | |
| Class |
Mammalia | |
| Order |
Carnivora | |
| Family |
Felidae | |
| Genus |
Caracal | |
| Species |
C. caracal | |
| Conservation Status (IUCN 3.1) | ||
 Least Concern | ||
Caracals (Caracal caracal) are medium-sized wild cats native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and India. It is listed a least concern on the IUCN Red List.[1]
Characteristics
Caracals are characterized by a robust build, long legs, a short face, long tufted ears, and long canine teeth. Its coat is uniformly reddish tan or sandy, while the ventral parts are lighter with small reddish markings. It reaches 40–50 cm (16–20 in) at the shoulder and weighs 8–18 kg (18–40 lb). It was first scientifically described by German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber in 1776. Three subspecies are recognized since 2017.
Caracals have strong legs good for jumping, they can jump 10 feet high. Typically nocturnal, the caracal is highly secretive and difficult to observe. It is territorial, and lives mainly alone or in pairs. The caracal is a carnivore that typically preys upon small mammals, birds, and rodents. It can leap higher than 3 m (9.8 ft) and catch birds in midair. It stalks its prey until it is within 5 m (16 ft) of it, after which it runs it down, the prey being killed by a bite to the throat or to the back of the neck.
