#0443 · 🦊 mammals

Caracal

Caracal caracal

LCleast concern 🦊 Mammals 📍 outside Europe

10 photos from iNaturalist (Creative Commons) · credits & licences

1. © mikeloomis · CC BY-NC 4.0
2. © Jacques van der Merwe · CC BY-SA 4.0
3. © Carlo · CC BY-NC 4.0
4. © My World of Bird Photography · CC BY-NC 4.0
5. © thelandlover · CC BY-NC 4.0
6. © Christiaan Viljoen · CC BY 4.0
7. © John D Reynolds · CC BY-NC 4.0
8. © Michael McSweeney · CC BY-NC 4.0
9. © ONG OeBenin · CC BY-NC 4.0
10. © Andre Harmse · CC BY-NC 4.0

what is it?

The caracal ( Caracal caracal ) is a medium-sized wild cat native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and India. The caracal is characterised by a robust build, long legs, a short face, long tufted ears and long canine teeth. Its coat is uniformly reddish tan or sandy, while the ventral parts are lighter with small reddish markings. It reaches 40–50 cm (16–20 in) at the shoulder and weighs 8–18 kg (18–40 lb). It was first scientifically described by German naturalist...

base stats

NL sightings 0iNaturalist, research grade
worldwide 2,414iNaturalist observations
threat LCleast concern

Bars compare against all animals on log scales: up to 300,000 Dutch and 600,000 worldwide sightings (the most-seen species), 150 t (blue whale), 30 m and 400 years (Greenland shark).

fun facts

No confirmed wild sightings in the Netherlands on iNaturalist: you'd have to travel for this one.
2,414 observations worldwide on iNaturalist.
Scientifically named by Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber in 1776 (250 years ago).