Caracal - Caracal caracal

[Ceratodromeus]

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Subfamily: Felinae
Genus: Caracal
Species: C.caracal

Subspecies
As of this year, eight subspecies are currently recognized -- surely the result of such a wide geographic distribution and success in an array of different habitats.

• Caracal caracal algira    
• Caracal caracal damarensis
• Caracal caracal limpopoensis
• Caracal caracal caracal
• Caracal caracal lucani
• Caracal caracal nubica
• Caracal caracal poecilotis
• Caracal caracal schmitzi

Description
The caracal is a mid sized, but impressively built species of small felid. It can be distinguished from other sympatric felids via the tufts of hair on the tips of the ears(which give it one of its alternative common names, 'the black tufted cat'), as well as its coat coloration, which is typically beige on the dorsal region of the animal and white on the underside. Mel & Fiona sunquist gave a range of 75-105.7cm for head-body length measurement(tail not included), with a mean of 88.1cm; the sample size was 65.  Body weight for South African males reported by the Sunquists ranged from 8-18kg, with a mean of 12.7kg. The largest male reported by the sunquists appears to be a 20kg taken from a sample in South Africa, and not from the sample as the above figures; the sample the 20kg male comes from had a mean mass of 14.5kg. The males are the larger sex; Females reported from one South African effort had a mean head-body length of 83.4cm(range of 71-102cm); mean body mass of 10.1kg( range of 7-15kg) and another gave a mean body mass of 10.9kg( range of 8.6-14.5kg) via a sample of 32 adult individuals^{1}. In some parts of the species' distribution, females are slightly smaller; two examples of this would be Israel and Turkey; the Sunquists report 5 females from Israel had a mean mass of 6.2kg, and in Turkmenistan reporting an ~8kg mean for a sample of 3 females^{1}. Other efforts report a range of 8-12kg from a sample of 7 in Turkmenistan^{2}. 



Geographic distribution & Habitat use
This is a very successful species in regard to range; they are found from the Cape of South Africa to Iran & India. One aged adult male C.c.schmitzi radio collared in 1996 had a very impressive home range, which appears to have shifted in size between the seasons; 270km² in the Winter/Spring and 470km², even 1116km² by January of 1997; though it did not appear to have a 'core area', like other African caracals have been shown to have. African males utilize a territory ranging in size from 5-65km²,. African caracals appear to prefer dry  woodlands, steppes, and savannas^{4}.



Dietary habits
The caracal is a generalist predator capable of taking down animals far larger than itself. Rodents appear to be a significant staple in the felids' diet however; a study on prey selection in Namibia using scat analysis showed that 60% of the prey taken by caracals was rodents, namely the Springhare. Other rodents identified in scat from this study include a ground squirrel(Xerus inauris), Striped mice(Rhabdomys pumilio), Brandt's whistling rats(Parotomys brantsii), Short tailed gerbils(Desmodillus auricularis), Hairy footed gerbils(Gerbillurus paeba), and Highveld gerbils(Tatera brantsii). Carnivorans featured semi-prominently in these scats as well, but it is not known if they were scavenged or killed by the cat themselves. Species identified in scats include the Yellow mongoose(Cynictis penicillata), Striped polecat(Ictonyx striatus),African wild cat(Felis sylvestris), Bat eared fox(Otocyon megaloti), Cape fox(Vulpes chama), and the Black backed jackal(Canis melanocuela). Steenbok(Raphicerus campestris) and dorper sheep(Ovis aries) were also identified in these scats^{5}. Scat analysis in the two different localities of the Southern Cape of South Africa reflect the importance of rodents to the carcal, with these small mammals, namely the Vlei rat, (Otomys irroratus), and Striped mouse(Rhabdomys pumilio) comprising ~80% of the identified remains in both localities{6}. In  Mountain Zebra National Park, South Africa, the rock hyrax is an important prey item, being found in 60/200 scats^{1}. Caracals also take birds on occasion, one radio-collared C.c.schmitzi was observed feeding on a steppe eagle(Aquila nipalensis)^{3}, and there is a record of one caracal killing an adult ostrich(see below). Pienaar(1969) reports that In Kruger National Park Impala lambs, duiker, steenbuck, and, Klipspringer, and Sharpe's grysbuck^{7}. Caracals are notorious predators of livestock, and in turn suffered heavy prosectution from native farmers, who would use dogs to hunt them down. In one of these efforts, 103 caracals were killed, half of which contained the remains of sheep and goats^{1}.




How the prey animal is dispatched depends on the size of the animal in question; small prey like rodents is usually killed with a nape bite, whilst the larger prey like antelope is killed with a throat bite near the base of the neck. They are ambush predators, and will creep up to 5 yards from the intended prey animal before launching their attack^{1}. This species is renowned for its jumping ability, which it utilizes in catching birds that have taken to the air.



Reproduction
Sexual maturity is attained relatively quickly, within the first year of life for both males and females according to observations on captive and wild animals^{8}. The female's oestrus cycle lasts approximately two weeks, but they will remain in this condition if fertilization is not successful, for anywhere between three and six days, at intervals of two weeks. The gestation period ranges from 68-81 days, and a litter can range in size from one to as many as eight kittens, but a more typical litter numbers two or three. Females will seek refuge in dens, tree cavities, or caves so they can safely give birth. In the first week, the kittens' eyes will open, and within six months get their permanent teeth. At the onset of sexual maturity, the young caracals will disperse and seek out home ranges of their own^{1}.



Mortality
Despite being a powerful predator in its own right, the caracal is still vulnerable to other predators. The young ones are more prone to predators such as the black backed jackal, and a wide array of small predators. Not only that, but the young have to be wary of adult conspecifics, as males have been documented engaging in infanticide^{1}.Adults have fallen victim to lions and leopards, and there is even one record of an adult being killed by a rock python^{8,9}. The greatest threat to the species' existence is man, who has mercilessly persecuted these impressive animals for their depredation of livestock.

References
^{1} Sunquist, Mel, and Fiona Sunquist. Wild cats of the world. University of Chicago press, 2002.
^{2} Heptner, V. G. & A. A. SLUDSKI (1992): Mammals of the Soviet Union. Vol. 2, Part 2. Carnivora.
English Translation by R. S. HOFFMANN. – Smithsonian Institution Libraries, Washington, D.C
^{3} van Heezik, Yolanda M., and Philip J. Seddon. "Range size and habitat use of an adult male caracal in northern Saudi Arabia." Journal of arid environments 40.1 (1998): 109-112.
^{4} Avenant, N. L., and J. A. J. Nel. "Among habitat variation in prey availability and use by caracal Felis caracal." Mammalian Biology-Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde 67.1 (2002): 18-33.
^{5} Melville, H. I. A. S., J. du P. Bothma, and M. G. L. Mills. "Prey selection by caracal in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park." South African Journal of Wildlife Research 34.1 (2004): 67-75.
^{6} Braczkowski, Alexander, et al. "The diet of caracal, Caracal caracal, in two areas of the southern Cape, South Africa as determined by scat analysis." South African Journal of Wildlife Research 42.2 (2012): 111-116.
^{7} Pienaar, U. de. "DE V. 1969. Predator-prey relationships amongst the larger mammals of the Kruger National Park." Koedoe 12.1: 08-176.
^{8} Hunter, Luke. Wild cats of the world. Bloomberg publishing, 2015.
^{9} Wright, Bruce S. "Predation on big game in East Africa." The Journal of Wildlife Management 24.1 (1960): 1-15.

[Ceratodromeus]

Predation on a heron

"When photographer Kelsey Green stopped beside the road in South Africa's Garden Route National Park recently to take some snapshots of a heron on the hunt, she had no idea that her camera lens wasn't the only thing focused on the water bird. Hidden in the grass nearby, a caracal was stalking its prey. Luckily for Green, she had her camera in hand when the tawny cat made its move.



At first, Green's attention was entirely absorbed in the avian action: the black-headed heron was putting on a show, skewering rodents from the long grass and swallowing them whole. But just as she was preparing to leave, a streak of russet caught her eye. "My first thought was that it was a spooked duiker or grysbok," she told Wild Card Magazine. "Until I managed to pinpoint the heron and saw a caracal hanging on to its neck. I was shocked."

The wild cat dispatched its prey in seconds with a swift bite to the neck, before carrying it into a nearby thicket to enjoy the meal in peace. "As I work in conservation, I have had the privilege of seeing some pretty amazing sightings in the Kruger National Park and other big reserves," Green explained. "Wildlife sightings like this are not as commonplace in the Garden Route, so it was particularly special."





Although caracals are widespread throughout much of Africa, these shy felines are rarely seen. With their distinctive ear tufts, the cats are often referred to as Africa's lynx (a misnomer as caracals are only distantly related to their American and European cousins).

A current research project into the diets of caracals in Cape Town has turned up everything from penguins to mole rats proving that these opportunistic hunters will feed on whatever food is available. According to Laurel Serieys, Project Coordinator for the Urban Caracal Project, birds are often on the menu. "We have observed [caracals] to prey on a vast array of birds including guineafowl, peacocks, smaller song birds, buzzards, and an array of birds you would expect to find near the coast or in marshy areas including Egyptian geese, oystercatchers, sea gulls, and cormorants."

Like many wild cats, caracals rely on stealth to hunt their prey, stalking as close as they can to a target before pouncing or leaping to catch it. Known for their impressive acrobatics, these spring-loaded cats can launch themselves ten feet (three meters) into the air to nab their prey.

Caracals are thought to be particularly numerous in South Africa's Western Cape province, where they are sometimes persecuted for preying on livestock. In fact, they're regarded as "pests" by farmers in much of southern Africa, and are often killed to avoid livestock losses. In addition to unregulated hunting, habitat loss poses a threat to their survival. "

www.earthtouchnews.com/natural-world/predator-vs-prey/in-photos-caracal-snatches-a-heron-in-surprise-attack