CARACAL
			Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Species: Chordata Mammalia Carnivora Felidae Felis caracal

This rare feline species is near extinction. Found in savanna, the semidesert throughout Africa, and scarcely found in parts of southern Asia and India, this medium-sized cat has a reddish coat, long legs and long black ear tufts. Some zoologists consid er the caracal to be a true lynx, while others see it as akin to the serval.

Caracals feed on a variety of animals, some of their prey as large as small antelope, but mainly they feast on birds. Because the caracal is a great jumper, they will actually strike down an airborne bird by rearing up on their hind legs, and/or leaping up to 6.5 feet (2 m) in the air.

Young caracals are born in litters of 2 to 4 in either fox holes, aardvark holes, or tree hollows. Like any cat, the mother defends her babies fiercely against intruders or enemies.