---
title: "Serval"
description: "Leptailurus serval — Mammiferi. The serval (Leptailurus serval) is a wild small cat native to Africa."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/it/animal/serval
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Serval

> Leptailurus serval — Mammiferi. The serval (Leptailurus serval) is a wild small cat native to Africa.

- Scientific name: *Leptailurus serval*
- Category: `mammals` (Mammiferi)
- Habitats: `grassland` (Prati e campi), `freshwater` (Laghi e fiumi)
- iNaturalist observations: 2173
- Wikidata: [Q42699](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q42699)
- iNaturalist taxon: [42025](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/42025)

## Names

- en: Serval
- de: Serval
- es: Serval
- fr: Serval
- nl: Serval
- pt: Serval
- pl: Serwal sawannowy

## Countries with the most observations

TZ (426), ZA (405), KE (282), BJ (51), BW (31), CF (24), ZM (23), UG (22), TD (21), CD (18), ET (15), MW (14)

## Summary

The serval (Leptailurus serval) is a wild small cat native to Africa. It is widespread in sub-Saharan countries, where it inhabits grasslands, wetlands, moorlands and bamboo thickets. Across its range, it occurs in protected areas, and hunting it is either prohibited or regulated in range countries.
It is the sole member of the genus Leptailurus. Three subspecies are recognised. The serval is a slender, medium-sized cat that stands 54–62 cm (21–24 in) tall at the shoulder and has a weight range of approximately 9–18 kg (20–40 lb). It is characterised by a small head, large ears, a golden-yellow to buff coat spotted…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serval

## Photo

![Serval](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/serval/medium.jpg)

Photo: Daniel · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/226814289

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/serval?lang=it` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).