The serval (Leptailurus serval) is a small to medium-sized wildcat native to Africa. It is widespread in sub-Saharan countries, where it inhabits grasslands, wetlands, moorlands and bamboo thickets. It is the sole member of the Leptailurus genus. Three subspecies of the serval are recognized.

It is characterised by a small head, large ears, a golden-yellow to buff coat spotted and striped with black, and a short, black-tipped tail. The serval has the longest legs of any cat relative to its body size. Its body is slender. It stands 54–62 cm (21–24 in) tall at the shoulder and has a weight range of approximately 9–18 kg (20–40 lb).

The serval is a solitary carnivore that is active both at day and at night. It could leap over 2 m (6 ft 7 in) above the ground to land on the prey on its forefeet and strike its kill with a bite on its neck or head.

The serval was first classified as a member of the Felis genus in 1776 by Johann Christian Daniel before the generic name Leptailurus was proposed by Nikolai Severtov in 1858.

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