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Serval


Serval
Photo Information
Copyright: Valerie Schnepp (valy67) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1409 W: 53 N: 1929] (5768)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-04-19
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC-P71
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-04-22 1:28
Viewed: 1289
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Leptailurus serval

Second picture of Améville zoo. This poor animal was going in circles all day long, all alone in his small cage. I felt sorry for him, but it was the only animal that looked really unhappy at this zoo. Photo was taken through a (dirty :-))glass window.

Habitat : Servals can be found in dry, open grasslands, wooded savannas, grassy uplands, and moist areas around rainforests. They do not occur in rainforests. Servals are almost always found near water.

Physical Description : From 8 to 18 kg. Serval have the largest ears and longest legs, relative to their body size, in the cat family. Body length ranges from 670 to 1000 mm, tail length from 240 to 450 mm, and shoulder height from 540 to 620 mm. Males are generally larger than females. Their remarkably long legs can constitute much of their height and are used to see over savanna grasses, aiding in prey detection. The auditory bullae and pinnae of the ear are enlarged to aid in the detection of prey that emit high frequency sounds. The ears are rounded with white stripes on the back and they rest on a small, elongate head. The pelage is reddish-brown with dark spots that may merge into stripes along the back.

Reproduction : Little is known about the mating behavior of servals. Mating is not seasonal. During estrous males and females will hunt and rest together for several days. Gestation lasts from 65 to 75 days. On average 3 young are born per litter.

Behavior : Servals are solitary animals that primarily communicate through urine spraying and rubbing saliva on objects. They also communicate using vocalizations such as shrill cries, growls and purring.
Confrontation between servals is usually avoided, but can occur when home ranges overlap. Servals will take cover when surprised. When threatened directly they will raise their tail and flee using sudden direction changes and leaping.
Servals are primarily crepuscular. Their peak activity times are between ten and eleven at night and four and five in the morning.

Food Habits : Servals are carnivorous, their diet consists primarily of hares, mole rats, ground squirrels, vlei rats, quails, gueleas, frogs, and flamingos. They catch their prey by leaping and landing on their victims with both front paws. They also have the ability to reach into deep holes or enter the water to catch prey. If a serval misses its prey after the first try it will generally move on. When a prey is caught it will generally be played with before it is eaten. Servals are very efficient hunters due to their ability to leap up to ten feet into the air and due to their ability to swerve and change direction at full speed.
liquidsunshine, coasties, Tommysugar, jmp, eruyanik, wkshelton, qingqing, Athila, ALIRIZA, marhowie, Scott, zeca, firelord, Silke has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To HELO: Bonjour !valy67 1 06-05 13:51
To gaborik: Mercivaly67 3 04-25 15:42
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Critiques [Translate]

Great capture!
Very good composition with great colours and details.
Thanks for sharing!

Very nice capture Valerie,
Good detail, colours and sharpness. exposure and lighting are good. Good POV, notes and framing.

Thanks for posting, have a great weekend.

Hi Valerie

A great shot that is well composed, with good clarity, depth of colour and sharpness. Detail is spot on. A big tick for this shot! :-)

Very nice portrait. the colours are good, but the best is the point of view. Good work, bye Tom

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1836 W: 94 N: 2341] (8407)
  • [2006-04-22 6:37]

Hi Valerie,
Muy bien compuesta y nítida foto; doy por hecho lo que dices del estado de ánimo del animal, pero la foto le ha favorecido tanto que parece contento y activo.
José M.

Hello Valery,
Your subjects are quite interesting. This is a great shot. Even if you said that you got it through a dirty glass, it's very clear photo. I like it a lot! Thank you,
Ersin

Hi Valrie, excellent work, Perfect colors and dtails, BG, POV, is excellent Great Job, TFS Kyle

A great profile. Good composition and detail. Although the serval sat still but the photo is vivid. TFS.

  • Great 
  • mrcrow Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 451 W: 123 N: 194] (2998)
  • [2006-04-22 12:51]

i saw one in the wild in tanzania and was mesmerised by its stalking behaviour...i got out of the jeep just to watch it as it went down the road...kept close to the door of the jeep though

this is an exeptional profile and reminds me of the intensity and concentration these cats show when hunting

thank you!!

geof

  • Great 
  • Athila Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 312 W: 238 N: 427] (1537)
  • [2006-04-22 20:28]

Salut Valérie!

Belle image bien réussie. Le piqué est excellent de même que l'exposition. La grande profondeur de champs ne nuit pas trop, compte tenu le fond assez neutre et démuni de distraction. La composition est bien en laissant suffisament d'espace devant le regard del'animal.

Belle réussite qui mérite amplement un grand sourire vert foncé.

Hi Valerie,
Great shot, pretty. POV, colors, framing, lighting and details are excellent. Congratulations...
Ali Rıza

Bonjour Valérie,

Belle photo de cet animal. Les couleurs ainsi que les détails de l'animal sont remarquable. Par contre je crois qu'un arrière plan plus flou (ouverture différente)aurait mit cet animal plus en valeur. Bravo.

Martin.

Hi Valerie,
Great job through glass, a very nice profile..
Sorry this is short, Bad week :(
Howard

  • Great 
  • aido Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1095 W: 169 N: 1218] (4046)
  • [2006-04-25 9:05]

Hi Valerie,
Great result through glass! Lovely profile shot, excellent colours and detail, lovely piece of work.
Regards,
Adrian

Valerie,
Very nice, sharp focus, I like the pov, beautiful creature. I would pace all day if I were in a cage.

Scott

  • Great 
  • zeca Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 383 W: 14 N: 540] (2859)
  • [2006-05-03 23:41]

Nice capture, Valerie! Perfect timing to shot this guy when he is listen to something happening ahead! Good colours and sharp details! Well done!
Cheers!
Zeca

  • Great 
  • HELO Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 106 W: 10 N: 58] (352)
  • [2006-06-05 7:42]
  • [+]

bonjour Valérie
très beau fauve
bons détails et belles couleurs
en plus j'adore les fauve il son très beau
bravo!!

(je suis désolé de ne jamais vous mettre de commentaire mais je vais encors a l'école alors je n'ai pas le temps).
helo

Hi Valerie,
Even you made the shot through dirty glass, the picture is exceptionally sharp and clear. Good composition and POV. Very well done. TFS
JC

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 753 W: 108 N: 1730] (5406)
  • [2006-06-30 19:07]

Another delightful composition, but one I will not show my dog :)
DOF, colours, framing, all perfect. Well captured once again
Best regards
Silke

Hello Valerie,
A pleasant profile portrait of this most attentive animal!
Well done on framing, the furry guy is captured with great details and excellent texture in the fur coat...
Greetings,
Pablo -

Bonjour Valy,il est superbe ce petit félin.Jen ne connaissais pas du tout,la photo est très réussie,magnifique

Mich,

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