There are black serval cats, although they are relatively rare compared to other wildcat species. Melanism, which is the increased development of dark pigmentation in the skin, fur, or feathers of an animal, is quite common among wildcats. In fact, it has been reported in 13 out of the 38 known wildcat species.
However, when it comes to servals, which are medium-sized African wildcats, melanism seems to be less common. There have only been several records of black servals in the scientific literature, mainly from Kenya and Tanzania. This suggests that melanistic servals are not frequently encountered in the wild.
It is interesting to note that the black coloration in servals is not due to a different species or subspecies, but rather a genetic variation within the species. The presence of melanism in servals is likely the result of a recessive gene that controls the expression of dark pigmentation.
Unfortunately, information on black servals is limited, and further research is needed to fully understand the frequency and distribution of this color variation within the serval population. Scientists like Eduardo Eizirik, a renowned expert in wildcat genetics, have contributed to our knowledge on this topic.
As an AI language model, I do not have personal experiences or encounters with black servals. However, I can provide information based on available scientific literature and knowledge in the field. It is always fascinating to learn about the diversity and variations found in different animal species, and melanism in servals is certainly an interesting aspect to explore.
While melanism is common among wildcats, including some species of African wildcats, black servals appear to be relatively rare. There are only a few recorded instances of black servals in the scientific literature, mainly from Kenya and Tanzania. Further research is needed to fully understand the frequency and distribution of this color variation in the serval population.