Caracal
Caracal Caracal
Classification
- Domain Eukarya- The domain for all living things with cells that have a nucleus. They can be either single-celled or multicellular.
- Kingdom Animalia- All animals belong to this kingdom. All animals are multicellular and rely on other organisms for their food source. Animals do not have cell walls, which allows them to move. Compared to plants, animals are fast and flexible.
- Phylum Chordata- All of the animals that belong to this phylum have one line of symmetry. They have a heart, blood vessels, and a closed blood system. All of the animals that belong to this phylum have a complete digestive system and usually have a spine.
- Subphylum Vertebrata- All animals belonging to the subphylum vertebrata are vertebrates, or have a bony spinal column. Vertebrates have a spine, digestive system, and a heart.
- Class Mammalia- All mammals belong to the class mammalia. All mammals have hair at some point in their lifetime and have teeth that greatly compare with other mammals.
- Order Carnivora- Carnivores belong to this order. Carnivores eat meat only, because of their special teeth. Carnivores have a relatively large cranium (braincase), and have a large brain with a simple stomach.
- Family Felidae- All bear a strong resemblance to each other. They range in body mass greatly, and they are skilled hunters. All felines are colored to help them camouflage, and have large, semi-rotating ears.
- Genus Caracal- the genus that only contains the caracal.
- Species Caracal- Caracal caracal
A caracal's ears
Caracal Range Map
Caracal in its habitat
General Description
- Length- the caracal's body (including tail) and head length can range from 2 to 3 feet long. The tail length can range from 7 to 13 inches.
- Height- Ranges from 15 to 20 inches high (at the shoulder)
- Weight- Caracals can weigh up to 42 pounds.
- Color- the caracal's coat is usually reddish brown. A female's coat is usually lighter than a male's. The underside of a caracal is white.
- Prey- Caracals are strict carnivores and mainly eat hyraxes, hares, small monkeys, various birds and rodents, gazelles, and antelopes.
- Conservation status- A caracal is in the status of Least Concern. Least Concern is the conserving status that humans are in, along with giraffes and zebras.
- Geographic Range- Caracals are mainly in Central Asia, Africa, and southwestern Asia. Caracals can also be found over 3000 meters above ground in the Ethiopian Mountains.
- Habitat Description- Caracals live in desert-like areas and can sometimes be found crossing mountains.
- Predators- lions, leopards, hyenas, humans
- General Facts-
- A caracal can also be called the desert lynx
- A caracal can survive for a long period without water because its fluid intake comes from the fluids of their prey.
- The purpose of the long, black ear tufts on the caracal is still debated. They either enhance facial expressions and are used as communication signals, or they give the caracal advanced hearing.
- The caracal's black ear tufts are longer than the bobcat's or the average lynx's.
Physical Adaptations
Caracals have long, muscular hind legs that allow them to jump up and strike birds that are already airborne and eat them. This helps the caracal survive because they have a better chance of getting prey than other animals. Caracals can go for a long time without drinking water. This helps the caracal survive because, not having to stop to drink as much, they can travel further and have a better chance of getting away from predators. A caracal's plain, brown coat help it survive because they can lie down and blend in with the ground around them. Caracals are seen as small, but they are the the fastest and heaviest of all the small cats. Being both fast and heavy help the caracal survive because they can weigh a lot but are still capable to run away from predators. Caracals have well developed hearing and can detect prey by sound alone. This helps the caracal survive because they can hear prey that other animals can't. A caracal gains teeth between 4 and 5 months old, but they don't hunt for their own prey until at least age 1. Their teeth help them survive because they can eat meat that other animals can't.
Behavioral Adaptations
References
References
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License
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