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The caracal /ˈkærəkæl/ (Caracal caracal), also known as the desert lynx, is a wild cat widely distributed across Africa, Central Asia, and Southwest Asia into India. In 2002, the IUCN listed the caracal as Least Concern, as it is widespread and relatively common. The felid is considered threatened in North Africa, and rare in the central Asian republics and India.

German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber first described Felis caracal in 1776 from a specimen collected from Table Mountain, South Africa, which is considered the type locality of the species. The generic name Caracal was first used by the British naturalist John Edward Gray in 1843 on the basis of a type specimen collected near the Cape of Good Hope.

The caracal has been classified variously with Lynx and Felis in the past, but molecular evidence supports a monophyletic genus closely allied with the African golden cat and serval.

These photos were taken on the Serengiti. It is a rare sighting. Martin had previously only seen one and Abdul had previously seen only two. The caracal is distinguished from Felis by the presence of a long tuft on the tip of the ears, exceeding half their length.

These photos were taken at the Serengeti.

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Caracal 0369

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