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Caracal caracal
Desert Lynx - English; Wüstenluchs - German; Rooikat - Afrikaans
The Caracal is often referred to as the Desert or African Lynx because of dark tufts on the large pointed ears. It is not, however, closely related to the true lynx. Weighing between 13 and 19 kg it is the largest of the 'lesser' African cats. The Caracal can grow up to 3 feet in body length with a tail roughly one third again in size. Some considered it one of the most beautiful cats in the world. A slender cat with yellow-brown to red-brown coat it is striking in appearance. The underbelly, chin and area around the eyes are white while the eyes themselves are lined in black. The back of the ears are black and from this comes the name Caracal, a derivation of a Turkish word meaning black ear.
Gender differences:
Females significantly smaller than males
Habitat:
Caracals are found from Southern and Central Africa through the Middle East and Southern Asia into India. The habitat varies depending on its location within its range. It can be found in dry savanna, scrubland and woodland into moutainous rugged areas.
Diet:
The Caracal is carnivorous and hunts mainly at night but sometimes hunts at twilight as well. The diet of the caracal includes small animals such as jerboas, ground squirrels, rock hyrax and sand rats but it also takes larger prey including reedbuck and duiker. Being extremely agile with a fantastic jumping ability it is able to bring down birds on the wing, just after they take off, such as pigeons and guineafowl. It can, like other cats of arid regions, survive extended periods without water, getting what it needs from the moisture in its prey.
Reproduction:
There seems to be no set breeding period. Females may mate with as many as three different males. It is thought there is only one litter annually born after an average gestation period of 71 days. The litter can have 1 - 6 kittens but the average is 3. Nursed for 10 - 25 weeks, kittens gain weight rapidly and reach maturity at 16 - 18 months. Most become independent at 12 months and are capable of reproduction at 13 - 16 months of age. Captive Caracals have live up to 19 years of age.
Other:
Like leopards, caracals often cache their prey in trees and return to it later to continue feeding. Young Caracal have been tamed and used to assist hunters.
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