The Caracal (Caracal caracal) is a medium-sized wild cat native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and India. It is characterized 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 Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber in 1776. Three subspecies are recognised since 2017.
Typically nocturnal, the caracal is highly secretive and difficult to observe. It is territorial, and lives mainly alone or in pairs. The caracal is a carnivore that typically preys upon small mammals, birds, rodents, hyraxes, eggs, antelopes, reptiles, and carrion. It can leap higher than 4 m (12 ft) and catch birds such as guineafowl in midair. It stalks its prey until it is within 5 m (16 ft) of it, after which it runs it down and takes down its prey with a bite to the throat or to the back of the neck. Both sexes become sexually mature by the time they are 1 year old and breed throughout the year. Gestation lasts between 2 and 3 months, resulting in a litter of 1-6 kittens. Juveniles leave their mothers at the age of 9-10 months, though a few females stay back with their mothers. The average lifespan of captive caracals is nearly 16 years.
Caracals have been tamed and used for catching other animals since the time of ancient Egypt. These carnivores are so good at hunting birds and antelope that hunters in India will tame them to be pets so they can flush out and catch pigeons or gazelles due to the fact that caracals can run as fast as a young cheetah.
They are around the same size as a lynx and were once considered a species of lynx, sometimes even being called desert lynx (due to being found mostly in scrubland, savanna, and semi-desert). Even their large ear and ear tufts are reminiscent of lynx ears. These ears tufts may catch sound waves and send them into their funnel shaped ears so they can pinpoint their prey in the tall grass. But caracals aren't very closely related to lynx species. These small cats have to compete with other carnivores like honey badgers, jackals, and cheetahs. But their tenacity and aggression lets them take on threats that outnumber them or that outweigh them.