Ashley (ashleyeickelman@gmail.com ) Dominique English 8 16 February 2018 Day: 83 Caracals
Caracals are small carnivorous mammals found in the grasslands around the world. In the forests and savannas a caracal is found roaming its land. With its great hunting skills it leaps into action. The word caracal is from the Turkish word meaning black-eared. Throughout history, caracals were used centuries ago by different groups of people. The caracal, also known as the Persian lynx, is a member of the cat family. Back in ancient Egypt, caracals were religiously significant in their culture. Paintings and bronze figurines were made to guard the tombs of the Pharaohs. Their ear tufts elaborately depicted in some tombs. Chinese emperors used caracals as gifts in the 13 and 14 centuries. Yuan dynasty rulers brought numerous caracals from Muslim merchants in return for gold, silver, cash, and silk. Not only were caracals in Egypt and China, they lived in other parts of the world as well. The caracal is native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and India. Forests, savannas, grasslands, and rocky hills is we re you would typically find a caracal. With an elevation over 3,000 meters, caracals lounge in the mountains of Ethiopia. Caracals are nocturnal and usually live alone. When it s time to nest, the mother finds a safe place for her babies. Caracal mothers make a den in an abandoned aardvark or porcupine burrow. A mother is pregnant for about three months. Her litter consists of 2-6 kittens. They are mainly born in summer. The babies are born tiny and helpless with their eyes sealed shut. After ten days of being born, their eyes start to open. When they are about 1-2 months old, they start eating meat. Their permanent teeth start growing around 4-5 months old. As they grow, they follow their mother to learn hunting skills.
The caracal is part of a group that hunts and eats other animals. When a caracal has reached a year old, it can finally hunt on its own. Their cushioned footpads help them stalk their prey without making any noise. They stalk their prey at least five meters away. When it s time to strike they launch into a sprint. With a bite in the throat or a nape of the neck the prey is theirs. Caracals have impressive leaping abilities to catch birds. Their hind legs can leap more than three meters in the air. They can even change direction in mid-air. With a top speed of 50 miles per hour, a caracal can hunt an ostrich. They mark their territory by clawing marks on a tree. Caracals are very good hunters and have a variety diet. When it s time for dinner a caracal will avoid eating the fur of its prey. They use their claws to shear off the fur. Caracals eat a variety of animals. Small mammals, birds, rodents, goats, ostriches, gazelles, hares, and sheep are what a caracal would typically eat. They do not eat their prey all at once. When they ve finished their meal, they throw the remaining prey in a tree for later. Caracals can survive a drought because of the liquids they get from their prey. While the caracal s diet is very impressive, their outer appearance is quite beautiful. The caracal is a slender sized cat. They have a short face, long teeth, tufted ears, and long legs. Caracals are typically 24-36 inches long from the nose to the base of their tail. Their tails are measured to be between 7-13 inches long. Male caracals are 26-40 pounds while the female is 18-29 pounds. The caracal has 20 different muscles in its ear to help with its super hearing abilities. Female and Male caracals have different shades of fur. They both have brown reddish coats, but the females are slightly lighter. Caracals have white stomachs with small spots and long black tufted ears. Their mouth is outlined in black with white patches all around
the eyes and mouth. Each caracal has different whiskers so no two caracals are the same. Although their fur is extremely beautiful, it is never used for woman s coats. Many people have mistaken the caracal fur for the Asiatic sheep karakul. They are truly an astonishing animal. The bright orange cat, which lives in the forest, is truly an amazing animal. For the ways they hunt, and how they live life. From ancient Egypt to China, caracals are found around the world. With their tufted ears and a black nose, they are a beautiful creature. The lovable little caracal is a mammal you will never forget!
Resources Books Walker, Sarah. Big Cats. Internet Sites Interesting Facts about Caracals. Justfunfacts.com Caracal. A-Zanimals.com Encyclopedia Article Caracal. World book, 1976 Online Periodicals Caracal. National Geographic Kids Photo Site The Strange Animal Known As A Caracal. Wimp.com