Habitat

Widely through Sub-saharan Africa, preferring areas of tall grass often close to water, in savannah and grassland

Natural behavior

Crepuscular and terrestrial, living in home ranges.

Description

Slender with long legs, lean body, short tail and small head with large ears. Tawny colour coat with both black spots and stripes. White belly fur. Extremely agile.

Distribution

Central to South Africa

Diet

Carnivorous: specialised in preying on small mammals, mainly on grass and mole rats, birds, reptiles, frogs, crabs and large insects.

Reproduction

Polygynous, male territories overlap as many female territories as possible for optimum reproduction. Although there is no set breeding season, mating most often occurs in the spring. When a female is coming into oestrus and nearly ready to breed she will find and court a male over several days before coming into oestrus.

Social structure

Males are predominately solitary living in home ranges which they defend. Females will stay with offspring for up to 2 years; female offspring are more tolerated to remain in a mother’s home range than males.

Threats

Habitat loss and degradation, hunting for pelts and Medicinal value.