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Lynx

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This article is about the genus of wild cat. For other uses, seeLynx (disambiguation).

Lynx[1]
The four species of lynx. From top-left, clockwise:Eurasian lynx(L. lynx),Iberian lynx(L. pardinus),bobcat(L. rufus),Canada lynx(L. canadensis)
Scientific classificationEdit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Felidae
Subfamily: Felinae
Genus: Lynx
Kerr,1792
Type species
Felis lynx[3]
Species
Lynxranges:
Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx)
Canadian lynx (Lynx canadensis)
Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus)
Bobcat (Lynx rufus)

Alynx(/lɪŋks/links;[4]pl.:lynxorlynxes[5]) is any of the fourextantspecies(theCanada lynx,Iberian lynx,Eurasian lynxand thebobcat) within the medium-sized wildcatgenusLynx.The name originated inMiddle Englishvia Latin from the Greek wordlynx(λύγξ),[4]derived from theIndo-European root*leuk-('light','brightness'), in reference to the luminescence of itsreflective eyes.[citation needed]

Appearance

Profile view of a lynx

Lynx have a short tail, characteristic tufts of black hair on the tips of their ears, large, padded paws for walking on snow and long whiskers on the face. Under their neck, they have a ruff, which has black bars resembling abow tie,although this is often not visible.

Body colour varies from medium brown to goldish to beige-white, and is occasionally marked with dark brown spots, especially on the limbs. All species of lynx have white fur on their chests, bellies and on the insides of their legs, fur which is an extension of the chest and belly fur. The lynx's colouring, fur length and paw size vary according to the climate in their range. In theSouthwestern United States,they are short-haired, dark in colour and their paws are smaller and less padded. In colder northern climates lynx have thicker and lighter fur as well as larger and more padded paws that are well-adapted to snow.

The smallest species are thebobcatand theCanada lynx,while the largest is theEurasian lynx,with considerable variations within species.

Physical characteristics ofLynxspecies
Species Sex Weight Length Height (standing at shoulders)
Eurasian lynx
 males 18 to 30 kg (40 to 66 lb) 81 to 129 cm (32 to 51 in) 70 cm (27+1⁄2in)[6]
females 18 kg (40 lb)
Canada lynx
 Both 8 to 14 kg (18 to 31 lb) 90 cm (35+1⁄2in) 48 to 56 cm (19 to 22 in)[7]
Iberian lynx
 males 12.9 kg (28 lb) 85 to 110 cm (33+1⁄2to43+1⁄2in) 60 to 70 cm (23+1⁄2to27+1⁄2in)[8][9]
females 9.4 kg (20+3⁄4lb)
Bobcat
 males 7.3 to 14 kg (16 to30+3⁄4lb)[10] 71 to 100 cm (28 to39+1⁄2in)[10] 51 to 61 cm (20 to 24 in)[11]
females 9.1 kg (20 lb)

Species

The four living species of the genusLynxare believed to have evolved fromLynx issiodorensis,which lived in Europe and Africa during the latePlioceneto earlyPleistocene.The Pliocene felidFelis rexroadensisfrom North America has been proposed as an even earlier ancestor; however, this was larger than any living species, and is not currently classified as a true lynx.[12][13]Anotherextinctspecies ofLynx,L. shansiensis,inhabited what is now northern China during the Early Pleistocene.[14]

Eurasian lynx

Eurasian lynx
Main article:Eurasian lynx

Of the four lynx species, the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) is the largest in size. It is native to European,Central Asian,andSiberianforests. While itsconservation statushas been classified as "least concern",populations of Eurasian lynx have been reduced orextirpatedfrom much of Europe, where it is now being reintroduced. During the summer, the Eurasian lynx has a relatively short, reddish or brown coat which is replaced by a much thicker silver-grey to greyish-brown coat during winter. The lynx hunts by stalking and jumping on its prey, helped by the rugged, forested country in which it resides. A favorite prey for the lynx in its woodland habitat isroe deer.It will feed however on whatever animal appears easiest, as it is an opportunistic predator much like its cousins.[12]

Canada lynx

Canada lynx
Main article:Canada lynx

The Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), or Canadian lynx, is aNorth Americanfelid that ranges inforestandtundraregions[15]acrossCanadaand intoAlaska,as well as some parts of thenorthern United States.Historically, the Canadian lynx ranged from Alaska across Canada and into many of the northernU.S. states.In the eastern states, it resided in the transition zone in which boreal coniferous forests yielded to deciduous forests.[16]By 2010, after an 11-year effort, it had been successfully reintroduced intoColorado,where it had become extirpated in the 1970s.[17][18][19]In 2000, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated the Canada lynx athreatened speciesin thelower 48 states.[20]

The Canada lynx is a good climber and swimmer; it constructs rough shelters under fallen trees or rock ledges. It has a thick coat and broad paws, and is twice as effective as the bobcat at supporting its weight on the snow. The Canada lynx feeds almost exclusively onsnowshoe hares;its population is highly dependent on the population of this prey animal. It will also hunt medium-sizedmammalsandbirdsif hare numbers fall.[15]

Iberian lynx

Iberian lynx
Main article:Iberian lynx

The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is avulnerable speciesnative to theIberian PeninsulainSouthern Europe.It was the most endangered cat species in the world,[21]but conservation efforts have changed its status from critical to endangered to vulnerable. The loss of the species would have been the firstfelineextinction since theSmilodon10,000 years ago.[22]The species used to be classified as a subspecies of the Eurasian lynx, but is now considered a separate species. Both species occurred together in centralEuropein thePleistoceneepoch, being separated by habitat choice.[23]The Iberian lynx is believed to have evolved fromLynx issiodorensis.[24]

Bobcat

Bobcat
Main article:Bobcat

The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a North American wild cat. With 13 recognized subspecies, the bobcat is common throughout southern Canada, thecontinental United States,and northern Mexico.[25]Like the Eurasian lynx, its conservation status is "least concern."[26]The bobcat is an adaptable predator that inhabitsdeciduous,coniferous,ormixedwoodlands, but unlike otherLynx,does not depend exclusively on the deep forest, and ranges from swamps and desert lands to mountainous and agricultural areas, its spotted coat serving as camouflage.[27]The population of the bobcat depends primarily on the population of its prey.[28]Nonetheless, the bobcat is often killed by larger predators such ascoyotes.[29]

The bobcat resembles other species of the genusLynx,but is on average the smallest of the four. Its coat is variable, though generally tan to grayish brown, with black streaks on the body and dark bars on the forelegs and tail. The ears are black-tipped and pointed, with short, black tufts. There is generally an off-white color on the lips, chin, and underparts. Bobcats in the desert regions of the southwest have the lightest-colored coats, while those in the northern, forested regions have the darkest.[11]

Behavior and diet

The lynx is usually solitary, although a small group of lynx may travel and hunt together occasionally. Mating takes place in the late winter and once a year the female gives birth to between one and four kittens. The gestation time of the lynx is about 70 days. The young stay with the mother for one more winter, a total of around nine months, before moving out to live on their own as young adults. The lynx creates its den in crevices or under ledges. It feeds on a wide range of animals fromwhite-tailed deer,reindeer,roe deer,smallred deer,andchamois,to smaller, more usual prey:snowshoe hares,fish,foxes,sheep,squirrels,mice,turkeysand otherbirds,andgoats.It also eatsptarmigans,voles,andgrouse.

Distribution and habitat

A lynx stalking prey

The lynx inhabits high altitude forests with dense cover of shrubs, reeds, and tall grass. Although this cat hunts on the ground, it can climb trees and can swim swiftly, catching fish.

Europe and Asia

TheEurasian lynxranges from central and northernEuropeacrossAsiaup to NorthernPakistanandIndia.InIran,they live inMount Damavandarea.[30]Since the beginning of the 20th century, the Eurasian lynx was considered extinct in the wild inSloveniaandCroatia.A resettlement project, begun in 1973, has successfully reintroduced lynx to the Slovenian Alps and the Croatian regions of Gorski Kotar and Velebit, including Croatia'sPlitvice Lakes National ParkandRisnjak National Park.In both countries, the lynx is listed as an endangered species and protected by law. The lynx was distributed throughoutJapanduringJōmon period;with no paleontological evidence thereafter suggesting extinction at that time.[31]

Several lynx resettlement projects begun in the 1970s have been successful in various regions ofSwitzerland.Since the 1990s, there have been numerous efforts to resettle the Eurasian lynx inGermany,and since 2000, a small population can now be found in theHarzmountains nearBad Lauterberg.

The lynx is found in theBiałowieża Forestin northeasternPoland,and in the northern and western parts of China, particularly theTibetan Plateau.InRomania,the numbers exceed 2,000, the largest population in Europe outside ofRussia,although most experts consider the official population numbers to be overestimated.[32]

The lynx is more common in northern Europe, especially inNorway,Sweden,Estonia,Finland,and the northern parts ofRussia.The Swedish population is estimated to be 1200–1500 individuals, spread all over the country, but more common in middle Sweden and in the mountain range. The lynx population in Finland was 1900–2100 individuals in 2008, and the numbers have been increasing every year since 1992. The lynx population in Finland is estimated currently to be larger than ever before.[33]Lynx inBritainwere wiped out in the 17th century, but there have been calls to reintroduce them to curb the numbers ofdeer.[34]

The endangeredIberian lynxlives in southernSpainand formerly in easternPortugal.[needs update]There is an Iberian lynx reproduction center outsideSilvesin theAlgarvein southern Portugal.

North America

A mother and cub,Kenai National Wildlife Refuge,Alaska

The twoLynxspecies in North America, Canada lynx andbobcats,are both found in thetemperate zone.While the bobcat is common throughout southern Canada, the continental United States and northern Mexico, the Canada lynx is present mainly inboreal forestsof Canada and Alaska.[25]

See also

References

  1. ^Wozencraft, W. C.(2005)."Order Carnivora".InWilson, D. E.;Reeder, D. M. (eds.).Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference(3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 541–542.ISBN978-0-8018-8221-0.OCLC62265494.
  2. ^Geraads, Denis Date=1980 (1980). "Un nouveau felide (Fissipeda, mammalia) du pleistocene moyen du Maroc: Lynx thomasi N. sp".Geobios.13(3): 441–444.Bibcode:1980Geobi..13..441G.doi:10.1016/S0016-6995(80)80079-9.{{cite journal}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^Wozencraft, W. C.(2005)."Order Carnivora".InWilson, D. E.;Reeder, D. M. (eds.).Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference(3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 532–628.ISBN978-0-8018-8221-0.OCLC62265494.
  4. ^ab"Definition of lynx from Oxford Dictionary".Oxford Dictionaries.Archived fromthe originalon April 12, 2016.RetrievedOctober 5,2010.
  5. ^"lynx — Definition from Longman English Dictionary Online".Longman Dictionary.RetrievedOctober 5,2010.
  6. ^Jackson, Peter (April 24, 1997)."Eurasian lynx".lynx.uio.no. Archived fromthe originalon May 27, 2007.RetrievedMay 28,2007.
  7. ^politis (2016-04-04)."Animal Facts: Canada Lynx".Canadian Geographic.Retrieved2020-01-01.
  8. ^"Iberian lynx –Lynx pardinus".Species Data Sheets.United Nations Environment Programme–World Conservation Monitoring Centre.2004. Archived fromthe originalon May 10, 2008.
  9. ^Johnson, Christopher (2011)."Lynx pardinus – Spanish lynx".Animal Diversity Web.University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.RetrievedMay 29,2011.
  10. ^abSparano, Vin T. (September 1998).Complete Outdoors Encyclopedia.St. Martin's Press. p.228.ISBN0-312-19190-1.
  11. ^abCahalane, Victor H (March 1, 2005).Meeting the Mammals.Kessinger Publishing. p. 64.ISBN1-4179-9522-X.
  12. ^abSunquist, Mel; Sunquist, Fiona (2002).Wild cats of the World.Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p.153.ISBN0-226-77999-8.
  13. ^Werdelin, Lars (1981)."The evolution of lynxes"(PDF).Annales Zoologici Fennici.18(1): 37–71.
  14. ^Tong, Haowen; Zhang, Bei; Chen, Xi; Jiangzuo, Qigao; Liu, Jinyi; Wang, Xiaoming (10 June 2023)."New carnivoran remains from the Early Pleistocene Shanshenmiaozui site in Nihewan Basin, northern China".Quaternary International.658:60–79.Bibcode:2023QuInt.658...60T.doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2023.04.003.Retrieved28 April2024– via Elsevier Science Direct.
  15. ^ab"Canada lynx, American lynx".Science & Nature: Animals – Wildfacts.BBC. July 25, 2008.RetrievedMay 29,2011.
  16. ^"Canada Lynx".Science & Nature: Animals – Wildfacts.National Wildlife Federation. Archived fromthe originalon February 17, 2013.RetrievedMarch 1,2013.
  17. ^
    •Banda, P. Solomon (September 18, 2010)."Lynx reintroduction ruled a success in Colorado".The Denver Post.Associated Press.RetrievedSeptember 18,2010.
    •"Colorado: Lynx No Longer Missing".New York Times.Associated Press. September 17, 2010. p. A13.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-01-03.RetrievedMay 29,2011.
  18. ^"DOW Declares Colorado Lynx Reintroduction Program a Success"(Press release).Colorado Division of Wildlife.September 17, 2010. Archived fromthe originalon July 18, 2011.RetrievedSeptember 18,2010.
  19. ^"Success of the Lynx Reintroduction Program".Colorado Division of Wildlife.September 7, 2010. Archived fromthe originalon August 27, 2010.RetrievedSeptember 18,2010.
  20. ^"§ 17.40 Special rules—mammals"(PDF).65 Federal Register 16051 16086.National Archives and Records Administration.March 24, 2000. p. 35. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on October 18, 2011.RetrievedMay 30,2011.
  21. ^Ward, Dan (December 12, 2008)."LynxBrief"(PDF).IberiaNature.RetrievedMay 30,2011.
  22. ^Gonçalves, Eduardo (April 21, 2002)."Captured cubs hold future of Europe's tiger".The Guardian.London.RetrievedNovember 14,2010.
  23. ^"Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus)".Cat Specialist Group Species Accounts.IUCN – The World Conservation Union. 1996. Archived fromthe original(Page navigation contains an imagemap)on July 24, 2011.RetrievedMay 29,2011.
  24. ^Kurtén, Björn (1968).Pleistocene Mammals of Europe.
  25. ^abZielinski, William J.; Kucera, Thomas E. (1998).American Marten, Fisher, Lynx, and Wolverine: Survey Methods for Their Detection.USA: Diane Publishing. p. 74.ISBN978-0-7881-3628-3.
  26. ^Kelly, M.; Morin, D. & Lopez-Gonzalez, C. A. (2016)."Lynx rufus".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2016:e.T12521A50655874.
  27. ^Hamilton, William J.; Whitaker, John O. (1998).Mammals of the Eastern United States.Cornell University Press. pp.493–496.ISBN0-8014-3475-0.
  28. ^"Deletion of Bobcat (Lynx rufus) from Appendix II "(PDF).Thirteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties, Proposal 5.Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.October 2004. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on November 2, 2013.RetrievedMay 31,2007.
  29. ^Fedriani, J. M., T. K. Fuller, R. M. Sauvajot and E. C. York. 2000. Competition and intraguild predation among three sympatric carnivores. Oecologia, 125:258–270.
  30. ^"Iran Environmental and Wild life Watch"http:// iew.ir/1392/10/21/20008Archived2014-01-12 at theWayback Machine
  31. ^Hasegawa, Y.[in Japanese];Kaneko, H.; Tachibana, M.; Tanaka, G. (2011).Nhật Bản における hậu kỳ đổi mới thế ～ giai đoạn trước xong tân thế sản の オオヤマネコLynxについて[A study of the extinct JapaneseLynxfrom the Late Pleistocene to the Early Holocene](PDF).Bulletin of Gunma Museum of Natural History(in Japanese and English).15:43–80.ISSN1342-4092.
  32. ^"Status and conservation of the Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) in Europe in 2001"(PDF).Coordinated research projects for the conservation and management of carnivores in Switzerland (KORA). Archived fromthe original(PDF [17.09 Mb])on January 8, 2014.RetrievedJanuary 8,2014.
  33. ^"Ilves"(in Finnish). Finland: Riista- ja kalatalouden tutkimuslaitos. October 14, 2010. Archived fromthe originalon July 17, 2011.RetrievedMay 30,2011.
  34. ^Moore, Matthew (February 13, 2009)."Lynx 'should be reintroduced to Britain to cull deer'".London: Telegraph.co.uk. Archived fromthe originalon February 16, 2009.RetrievedNovember 14,2010.
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