Mammals · Carnivora · Felidae

Caracal

Caracal caracal

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

Nicknamed the 'gazelle cat' by the nomads of North Africa, it can leap 3 metres straight up to snatch birds out of the air. Despite its other nickname, 'desert lynx', it is not related to the true lynxes.

Weight

8 kg – 19 kg

Size

60 cm – 75 cm

Lifespan

13 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

SavannaDesertCarnivore Nocturnal Solitary Feline Savanna Desert Mammal

74countries 13parks39same family

Fun facts

It can leap 3 metres straight up to snatch birds out of the air.
Despite its nickname of 'desert lynx', it is more closely related to the African golden cat.
The nomads of North Africa call it the 'gazelle cat'.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Dry savanna, scrub, low hills and semi-desert country of Africa, the Middle East, and Central and South Asia
Birth weight: 165 - 250 grams
Size at birth: Blind at birth, with its ears flat against its skull and claws that cannot yet retract
Sexual maturity: 12-16 months
Gestation / incubation: 68-81 days
Litter / clutch size: 1 to 6 young per litter (most commonly 2-3)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 20.3 years in captivity

Sources consulted: A-Z Animals; AnAge; Animal Corner; Feline Conservation Foundation; Animal Kingdom; ISEC Canada; Animal Diversity Web; Wild Cats of Africa