Definition

Noun: 1. A medium-sized African wild cat: The serval is a slender, long-legged wild cat species (Leptailurus serval) native to Africa. It is characterized by its large, untufted ears, a tawny yellow coat with black spots and stripes, and a relatively short tail.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The serval is an excellent hunter, using its large ears to locate prey in tall grass.
  • We were lucky to spot a serval during our safari in the Serengeti.
  • Unlike many other cats, the serval has a strong preference for wetland habitats.

Advanced Usage

• Ecological role: The term is used in biological and conservation contexts to discuss the species' role as a predator and its status in the ecosystem.
  • The decline of the serval population is an indicator of wetland habitat degradation.

Variants and Related Words

• Servaline (adj): Pertaining to or resembling a serval, often used to describe coat patterns.
  • The kitten had a servaline pattern of spots.

Synonyms

• African wildcat (Note: This is a broader term that can sometimes cause confusion, as it also refers to , a different species. "Serval" is the precise term for ).

Different Meanings

• The word "serval" refers exclusively to the wild cat species. It does not have other common meanings in general English usage.

Noun

1. slender long-legged African wildcat having large untufted ears and tawny black-spotted coat