Caracals are medium-sized wild cats native to Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. They are often referred to by different names depending on their location. For example, in India, they are known as "siyah-gosh," while in Iran, they're called "shir-e khorshid" which means "the sun's lion." In some parts of Africa, they're known as "african lynx" or "desert lynx," despite not being closely related to actual lynxes. The scientific name for the caracal is "Caracal caracal," but they're also commonly known by their lesser-used genus name "lynx," causing confusion with the actual lynx species. Other synonyms for caracals include Persian lynx, desert lynx, and gazelle cat.