Lynx

A lynx (; plural lynx or lynxes) is any of the four Lynx genus species of medium-sized wildcats. The name "lynx" originated in Middle English via Latin from Greek word "λύγξ", in reference to the luminescence of its reflective eyes. |- |females || |- | Canada Lynx || || || || |- | ROWSPAN=2 | Iberian Lynx | males | | ROWSPAN=2 | | ROWSPAN=2 | |- |females || |- | ROWSPAN=2 |Bobcat | males | | |- |females || |}

Species

The four living species of the Lynx genus are believed to have evolved from the "Issoire lynx", which lived in Europe and Africa during the late Pliocene to early Pleistocene. The Pliocene felid Felis rexroadensis from 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.

Eurasian Lynx

The Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) is the biggest of the lynxes. It is native to European and Siberian forests. While its conservation status has been classified as "Least Concern", populations of Eurasian lynx have been reduced or extirpated from western 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 its prey, helped by the rugged forested country it resides in. The cat will generally feed on small prey, such as, hares, rabbits, foxes, etc., and switch to larger prey only when food becomes scarce. across Canada and into Alaska as well as some parts of the northern United States. By 2010, after an 11 year effort, it had been successfully reintroduced into Colorado where it had become extinct in the 1970s. In 2000, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service designated the Canada Lynx a threatened species in the lower 48 states.

Canada lynx are good climbers and swimmers, they construct rough shelters under fallen trees or rock ledges. Canada lynx have thick coats and broad paws, and are twice as effective as bobcats at supporting their weight on the snow. The Canada lynx's diet is almost exclusive to and dependent on snowshoe hares and their numbers. They will also hunt medium-sized mammals and birds if hare numbers fall. According to the conservation group SOS Lynx, if this species died out, it would be the first feline extinction since the Smilodon 10,000 years ago. The species used to be classified as a subspecies of the Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx), but is now considered a separate species. Both species occurred together in central Europe in the Pleistocene epoch, being separated by habitat choice.

Bobcat

The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a North American wildcat. With twelve recognized subspecies, bobcats are common throughout southern Canada, continental United States, and northern Mexico. The Bobcat is an adaptable predator that inhabits deciduous, coniferous, or mixed woodlands, but — unlike other Lynx — 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. The population of the Bobcat depends primarily on the population of its prey. Nonetheless, bobcats are often killed by larger predators such as coyotes.

The bobcat resembles other species of the Lynx genus 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 are darkest.

Lynx are more common in northern Europe, especially in Sweden, Estonia, Finland, and the northern parts of Russia. 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 year 2008, and the number have been increasing every year since 1992. It has been estimated that lynx population in Finland is currently larger than ever before. Lynx in Britain were wiped out in the 17th Century but there have been calls to reintroduce them to curb the numbers of deer.

The critically endangered Iberian lynx lives in southern Spain and formerly in eastern Portugal. There is a lynx reproduction centre planned outside Silves in the Algarve in southern Portugal.

North America

There are two Lynx species in North America — Canada Lynx and bobcats, both found in the temperate zone. While bobcats are common throughout southern Canada, continental United States, and northern Mexico, Canada lynx are mainly present in boreal forests of Canada and Alaska.

National animal

The lynx is considered a national animal in the Republic of Macedonia and Romania and is displayed on the reverse of the Macedonian 5 denar coin.

See also

Lynx (mythology)

Wildcat, a small predator native to Europe, the western part of Asia, and Africa

References

External links

SOS Lynx: Photos, news and information about the Iberian Lynx in English and Portuguese

Canada Lynx in the Southern Rockies

The Iberian Lynx The natural history of the Iberian Lynx

The Nature Conservatory's Species Profile: Lynx

Canada Lynx (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)

Lynx research in the Bavarian Forest National Park

Forest Service Lynx research - RMRS

/ Smithsonian Magazine: Tracking The Elusive Lynx