The Caracal (Caracal caracal), also known as the Desert lynx, is a moderately sized wild cat found in the deserts and plains of Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and India. Like a Lynx, the Caracal has tufted ears but can be differentiated by its uniform reddish brown coat.
The Caracal also has distinctive black markings on its face: two stripes between the forehead and nose, a black outline around the mouth, and sometimes prominent eyebrow-like blotches. The Caracal is solitary and secretive, but has been trained and used for hunting throughout history.
Caracals have a shoulder height between 16”-20” (41-51 cm), body length of 24”-42” (61-107 cm), and weight in the range of 15-45 lb (7-20 kg). The tail of a Caracal is 9”-13” (23-33 cm) in length. Caracals have a typical lifespan of 10-12 years in the wild and around 15-20 years in captivity.
The Caracal (Caracal caracal), also known as the Desert lynx, is a moderately sized wild cat found in the deserts and plains of Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and India. Like a Lynx, the Caracal has tufted ears but can be differentiated by its uniform reddish brown coat.
The Caracal also has distinctive black markings on its face: two stripes between the forehead and nose, a black outline around the mouth, and sometimes prominent eyebrow-like blotches. The Caracal is solitary and secretive, but has been trained and used for hunting throughout history.
Caracals have a shoulder height between 16”-20” (41-51 cm), body length of 24”-42” (61-107 cm), and weight in the range of 15-45 lb (7-20 kg). The tail of a Caracal is 9”-13” (23-33 cm) in length. Caracals have a typical lifespan of 10-12 years in the wild and around 15-20 years in captivity.