Lynx

For other uses, see Lynx (disambiguation)}}}.

A Lynx is any of several medium-sized wild cats. Most are members of the genus Lynx, but there is considerable confusion about the best way to classify felids at present, and some authorities classify all lynxes as part of the genus Felis.

Contents

1 Appearance
2 Habitat
3 Behavior
4 Classification
5 Legal status
6 Gallery
7 References
8 External links

Appearance

Lynxes have short tails, and usually a tuft of hair on the tip of the ears. They have large paws padded for walking on snow, and long whiskers on the face. The color of the body varies from light brown to grey and is occasionally marked with dark brown spots, especially on the limbs. They range about 5 kg or about 11 pounds (roughly the size of a large Domestic Cat) up to about 30 kg (66 pounds). The Eurasian Lynx is significantly larger than the other species.

Habitat

The lynx inhabits the high altitude forests with dense cover of shrubs, reeds and grass. Though the cat hunts only on the ground, it can climb trees and swim. Though it can be found in the northern regions of Scandinavia, it is primarily found in North America and also in pockets in the Himalayas. Since the 1990s there have been numerous efforts to resettle the Eurasian Lynx in Germany. It can also be found in Białowieża Forest (northeastern Poland). The critically endangered Iberian Lynx lives in southern Spain and (possibly) eastern Portugal.

Starting in 1999, the Colorado Division of Wildlife has begun a program reintroducing a wild lynx population back to the United States. The animals were trapped in Canada before being brought to the Colorado Rockies, where after being tagged with radio collars frequently migrated throughout the western United States. While showing early signs of promise, biologists say it will take more than a decade to determine whether the program is a success.

Behavior

The Lynx is usually solitary, although a group of cats can travel and hunt together. Mating takes place in the late winter. Its desired resting place is in crevices or under ledges, and it gives birth to 2 to 4 kittens at a time. It feeds on birds and mammals and often on sheep and goats. Lynx (spotted) have been observed (2006) in the Wet Mountains of Colorado.

Classification

Eurasian Lynx, Lynx lynx or Lynx borealis
Canada Lynx, Lynx lynx canadensis or Lynx canadensis
Iberian Lynx or Spanish Lynx, Lynx pardinus
Bobcat, Lynx rufus

The Marbled Cat, Pardofelis marmorata, is sometimes also classified with the Lynxes. The Caracal or Desert Lynx is not a very close relative of the genus Lynx, nor is the Jungle Cat, despite the fact that both species have the typical tuft of hair on their ears.

Legal status

Hunting lynxes is illegal in many countries.

The Canada lynx is threatened in the United States.

Gallery

Image:Lynx lynx poing.jpg|Eurasian Lynx Image:Iberian lynx from side.jpg|Iberian lynx

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

[media]

[Canada Lynx in the Southern Rockies]
[The Iberian Lynx] The natural history of the Iberian lynx
[Hopes raised by Spain lynx births]
[Canada lynx (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service]

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