The Serval is generally found in most parts of Africa excluding the arid desert regions to the north around the Sahara, parts of the western tip of Southern Africa and certain areas of the tropical rainforest belt of Central Africa. A northern sub-species, is rarely sighted and is listed as endangered. Approximately similar in size to the Caracal, the serval has extraordinarily long legs for its body size which can be up to 3 feet in length, whilst standing up to 20 inches in shoulder height. The base fur colour is sandy to reddish brown and is covered in dark spots which have a tendency to merge into stripes along the top of the back.