Serval Scientific Name: Felis serval Range: Most of central Africa Habitat: Near bodies of water with densely vegetated banks Natural Diet: Rodents and birds Zoo Diet: Meat, bones, and rats Physical  Characteristics: Medium-sized members of the cat family, servals are generally a gold to dark gold color on their backs, lighter (often white) on their undersides, and have many dark spots. The tail also has several rings and a black tip. Servals are about 21 inches tall at the shoulder and can weigh anywhere between 20 and 55 pounds. Behavior: Servals are mostly solitary animals and are also mostly nocturnal (active at night). The serval can run or bound quickly for short distances. They are also good jumpers and can catch birds out of the air up to almost 10 feet in the air. Reproduction: There is no definite mating season, but most births tend to occur in the warm months from September to April. Females can give birth twice a year to an average of about 2 babies in a litter. The babies weigh only 8 or 9 ounces and open their eyes 9 days after birth.