What do you get if you merge a maned wolf, cheetah, and a bat-eared fox together? Probably something weird but no, A SERVAL! We are back today after a long hiatus for another #WildcatWednesday right here on #sciencetwitter for this special October edition before HALLOWEEN! 1/
Servals! These springy death monsters, what’s the deal with them? Well similar to cheetahs they are a highly specialized species that utilize much of the Serengeti and the southern region of Africa to exploit open grassland communities! #sciencetwitter /2 
While they might not be large being only 15-40 lbs and 24-36 in by length they make up for with their superior hunting technique that makes them one of the most successful feline hunters in the family! A single serval can kill about 4000 mice and 250 snakes in a YEAR! /3
Servals pounce similar to foxes and lifting all four feet off the ground they slam down on their prey often killing them or stunning them! By using a combo of swift hammer blows they can take down larger prey like storks, flamingoes, and young antelope!!! #sciencetwitter /4
A single pounce can be up to 12 ft long and they can jump 10 ft in the air!!! They use to knock birds and get this INSECTS IN MID FLIGHT!!! *screams* They also have huge ears that allow them to hear prey UNDERGROUND like African mole rats... BRUH! #sciencetwitter /5
These felids are so good at hunting it is reported that nearly one in every two pounces results in a kill! That’s astoundingly cool! Their elongated metatarsal bones (feet) and thin build gives them the ability to receive sound efficiently giving them an edge! #sciencetwitter /6
With an extreme fondness for rats and mice these doglike cats utilize active agricultural sites and rural areas to capitalize on the prey item abundance. Their presence is beneficial to humans allowing for a symbiotic relationship to form as long as they aren’t persecuted. /7
That’s all for this weeks series of #WildcatWednesday! Thank you so much for joining in and let us know what species YOU want to see next. We’re on a mission to cover all 40 species so make sure to tune in! As always, stay curious! #sciencetwitter /8
Source: The Wild Cat Book
Source: The Wild Cat Book
