This handsome small cat has dense short reddish-brown fur. Under parts of chin and body are white, and a narrow black line runs from the corner of the eye to the nose. Its ears are long, narrow and tipped with long black tufts of black hair. A juvenile has black on the outside of the ears which disappears as it becomes an adult. The pupils of a caracal's eyes contract to form circles rather than the slits found in most small cats.

A caracal has a long slender body, long legs and a tapering tail which is about a third as long as its body. Head and body length are as long as 35 inches, weight a maximum of 40 pounds. Sexes look alike.

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT:

Sometimes this animal is called a desert lynx or an African lynx. Experts disagree on whether or not a caracal is truly a lynx. It is found mainly in dry savannah and scrub but avoids sandy deserts.

The caracal ranges through drier portions of Africa and into Arabia, Afghanistan and India. It has become scarce in North Africa, South Africa, and parts of Asia.

BEHAVIOR:

The caracal is largely nocturnal but is sometimes seen by day, particularly in cooler portions of its range. It jumps and climbs well, and is a skillful, agile hunter. Mainly terrestrial and usually solitary, it stalks prey, then captures it after a quick dash or leap. The caracal is renowned for catching low-flying birds.

If pursued by wild dogs it flees into a tree, and if driven into a corner it defends itself vigorously and can be dangerous even to humans.

DIET:

The caracal diet includes birds, rodents, and other small mammals.

REPRODUCTION and GROWTH:

The young may be born at various times of year. A gestation period of 69-78 days is reported, and three young per litter are the norm. (1-6 young are possible.) Litters may be born and hidden in abandoned burrows, ant-bear holes, rock crevices or hollow trees.

Kittens are bright reddish-brown, then grow silvery hairs making them grayer than adults. Kittens open their eyes after ten days, are weaned at 10-25 weeks, and become sexually mature between six and 24 months.

They breed readily in captivity. Captives have lived as long as 17 years.

NOTE:

Caracals have been "tamed" and used to help human hunters in Iran and India. Because they sometimes raid poultry, people kill them on occasion.

Web Links:

"Science in Africa" article on caracals, http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2004/january/caracal.htm  1/27/04.