IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Loveridge, A.J.; Seymour-Smith, J.L.; Kotze, R.; Sibanda, A.L.; Collins, K. | |
| Evidence of predation on aquatic vertebrates by serval in the Okavango Delta, Bostwana | |
| 2021 African Journal of Ecology (59): 524-527 | |
The serval (_Leptailurus serval_, Schreber 1776) occurs widely in sub-Saharan Africa, though is absent from Congo Basin equatorial forest and from highly arid regions of North and South West of the continent. Preferred habitats include grassland and savannah woodland mosaics, frequently associated with rivers, wetlands and flood-plains. The serval is a specialist rodentivore with rodents, particularly Murids, usually making up between 80% and 90% of their diet across much the species range. They also feed on shrews (_Crocidura _and _Myosorex_ spp), small birds, amphibians, insects and small reptiles. There are occasional records of servals hunting young of small antelope, ground (_Xerus_ spp) and tree squirrels (_Paraxerus_ spp), larger ground and wading birds (e.g. flamingo, _Phoeniconaias_ spp), hares (_Lepus_ spp), springhares (_Pedetes capensis_), cane rats (_Thryonomys_ spp), aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates and small carnivores. Grass culms, leaves and fruit are sometimes consumed. Here we present evidence of predation on larger aquatic vertebrates by serval in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. |
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