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Glite Dictionary
Felis serval

Felis serval

9.9
A wild African cat with long legs, large ears, and spotted fur
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : serval
  • Unlike domestic cats, the Felis serval has much longer legs and larger ears.

Examples

  • The Felis serval is known for its remarkable jumping ability when hunting birds in tall grass.

  • The Felis serval is a skilled hunter, often stalking its prey through the tall grass of the African savanna.

  • Wildlife reserves in Africa often provide a sanctuary for the Felis serval.

  • The Felis serval is known for its remarkable jumping ability.

  • Have you ever seen a Felis serval in the wild?

  • In the wild, the Felis serval uses its acute hearing to detect small animals hidden among the foliage.

  • Many visitors to African wildlife parks are excited to see the elusive Felis serval with its distinctive spotted coat.

Synonyms

serval
vsFelis serval
  • South African
1 9.3

A slim African wild cat with long legs, big ears, and black spots

omits the untufted ear detail and gives a general description instead

Surface Forms

Felis serval singular
Felis servals plural

Morphology

Felis + serval

This is a binomial taxonomic name combining the genus 'Felis' (cats) with the species 'serval' (a slender African wildcat); a learner who knows both constituents can infer it refers to the serval cat species. Taxonomic naming is compositional and follows predictable cross-linguistic scientific conventions, so the meaning is directly derivable from the parts.

Etymology

The name Felis serval uses Felis, a Latin word for 'cat', and serval, a word that may come from an old word for 'deer' because the animal has long legs. So the name helps you picture a long-legged, spotted wild 'cat', which is what the serval is today.