The caracal (Caracal caracal) (<a target="_blank" rel="ugc" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English">/ˈkærəkæl/</a>) is a medium-sized wild <a target="_blank" rel="ugc" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felidae">cat</a> native to <a target="_blank" rel="ugc" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa">Africa</a>, the <a target="_blank" rel="ugc" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_East">Middle East</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="ugc" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Asia">Central Asia</a>, and arid areas of <a target="_blank" rel="ugc" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan">Pakistan</a> and northwestern <a target="_blank" rel="ugc" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India">India</a>. It is characterised by a robust build, long legs, a short face, long tufted ears, and long <a target="_blank" rel="ugc" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canine_teeth">canine teeth</a>. Its coat is uniformly reddish tan or sandy, while the <a target="_blank" rel="ugc" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ventral">ventral</a> parts are lighter with small reddish markings. It reaches 40–50 cm (16–20 in) at the shoulder and weighs 8–19 kg (18–42 lb). It was first <a target="_blank" rel="ugc" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_description">scientifically described</a> by German naturalist <a target="_blank" rel="ugc" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Christian_Daniel_von_Schreber">Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber</a> in 1776. Three <a target="_blank" rel="ugc" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subspecies">subspecies</a> are recognised.Typically <a target="_blank" rel="ugc" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nocturnality">nocturnal</a>, the caracal is highly secretive and difficult to observe. It is <a target="_blank" rel="ugc" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territory_(animal)">territorial</a>, and lives mainly alone or in pairs. The caracal is a <a target="_blank" rel="ugc" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnivore">carnivore</a> that typically preys upon birds, <a target="_blank" rel="ugc" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodent">rodents</a>, and other small <a target="_blank" rel="ugc" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammal">mammals</a>. It can leap higher than 3.0 m (10 ft) and catch birds in midair. It stalks its prey until it is within 5 m (16 ft) of it, after which it runs it down and kills it with a bite to the throat or to the back of the neck. Both sexes become <a target="_blank" rel="ugc" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexually_mature">sexually mature</a> by the time they are one year old and breed throughout the year. Gestation lasts between two and three months, resulting in a litter of one to six kittens. Juveniles leave their mothers at the age of nine to ten months, though a few females stay back with their mothers. The average lifespan of captive caracals is nearly 16 years.

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