
Caracal
Scientific name: Caracal Caracal
The caracal is native to Africa, Central Asia, Southwest Asia and India. The cat’s name comes from the Turkish word “karakulak”, which means “black ear”.
Caracals are nocturnal hunters. They are normally solitary animals, but some will stay in pairs.
Caracals appear to have been religiously significant to the ancient Egyptians. Caracals were found in wall paintings, and sculptures of caracals and other cats guarded tombs. Some caracal bodies were embalmed.
The caracal is sometimes called the desert lynx or African lynx, but it is not a member of the Lynx genus.