Caracals, lynx relatives, are born in borrowed burrows, rock holes, or thick scrub. They live in Africa's dry woodlands and savannas, Arabia's hilly steppes and mountains, and India's stony, broken scrubland. Their short dense fur is sandy to reddish brown or rarely melanistic black. Long slender body, longer hind legs, long tail, vertical dark forehead stripes and spotted mouth area plus long black tufted narrow pointed ears, characterize it. "Carcal" means "black ears" in Turkish.

Also called African Lynx.