Animal Fact Sheet
Previous | Next
Caracal
Caracal caracal
What does it look
like?
The caracal is a powerful, medium-sized cat with a slender body
and slim legs. Their long, pointed ears, tipped with two-inch tufts
of black hair, give it a lynx-like appearance.
- The reddish brown overcoat fades to white on their undersides,
from the chin and throat to belly and tail, while the pelage is
short and very soft
- Their eyes are ringed in white with a black line running from
the anterior corner of their eyes to their noses
- Average shoulder height is 17 inches
- Their head and body reaches a length of 20 inches, and tails
may reach nine inches
- Caracals weigh from 35 to 50 pounds.
|
| Where
in the world?
Nicknamed "desert lynx," caracals are found from central
India, west through Asia to Israel and Jordan, and south into the
Arabian peninsula and African continent.
These cats inhabit dry desert areas, savannas,
Acacia scrub, arid steppes and mountains. With their long, tasseled
ears and expressive faces, caracals are one of the most handsome
felines.
What are some behaviors?
Possibly the best hunter known, caracals have dazzling speed, agility,
balance, and are expert jumpers. They can hurl themselves several
feet off the ground to snatch small birds from the air, and are
swift enough to catch several birds in one leap.
Scientists filmed a caracal in action to discover
how its paw changed course in midair, literally clawing a bird out
of space. Caracals will sometimes climb nearby trees to feed at
leisure, avoiding interference from other predators.
Usually silent, caracals will occasionally make
sounds similar to leopard. Cubs make chirping, birdlike noises.
What about offspring?
While there are no definite times for mating, in South Africa, young
caracal are generally born in July and August.
After a 70-day gestation period, female caracals
give birth to two to four cubs in hollow trees or rock crevices
as a burrow. Cubs are miniatures of the adults, tawny with black
pointed ears and reddish spots on their undersides. The marking
serve as camouflage, helping hide the cubs from sight. Cubs remain
with their mothers for about a year. |
|
What does it eat?
Caracals are carnivores feeding on small birds, rodents and other
mammals. With their supple body and swift reflexes, they are adept
hunters in a broad range of situations. Hunting often at night,
caracals depend on stealth to catch prey.
Is it threatened
or endangered?
African subspecies range from rare in north Africa to common in
south Africa. Asian subspecies are more rare with subspecies, C.c.
michaelis, endangered and possibly extinct. |
