Head to head
African Golden Cat vs Caracal
African Golden Cat
VS Caracal
The African golden cat and caracal are close relatives, along with the serval, yet one is a secretive rainforest cat and the other a spectacular leaper of dry open country.
| African Golden Cat | Caracal | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Caracal aurata | Caracal caracal |
| Habitat | Dense rainforest | Dry savanna, scrub, and semi-desert |
| Coat | Colour forms from golden red to grey, spotted or plain | Plain, short-coated, and built for open country |
| Ears | Not a defining trait | Long black ear tufts |
| Diet | Rodents, birds, small antelopes such as duikers, and sometimes monkeys | Hares, rodents, hyraxes, small antelope, and birds leapt on in flight |
| Athletic ability | Secretive and rarely seen | Leaps up to about 3 m and sprints to around 80 km/h |
| Native range | Central and West Africa | Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and northwestern India |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
African Golden Cat vs Caracal: common questions
Are the African golden cat and caracal related?
Yes, genetic work shows the closest relatives of each are the other and the serval, despite their very different habitats.
Which lives in rainforest, the African golden cat or the caracal?
The African golden cat, which lives in the dense forests of Central and West Africa, while the caracal prefers dry savanna, scrub, and semi-desert.
Which is more threatened, the African golden cat or the caracal?
The African golden cat, which is Vulnerable because of snaring, hunting, and forest loss, while the caracal is Least Concern and widespread.