Lynx

A lynx (/lɪŋks/;[3] plural lynx or lynxes[4]) is any of the four species (the Canada lynx, Iberian lynx, Eurasian lynx, or bobcat) within the medium-sized wild cat genus Lynx. The name lynx originated in Middle English via Latin from the Greek word λύγξ,[3] derived from the Indo-European root leuk- ('light, brightness')[5] in reference to the luminescence of its reflective eyes.[5]

lynx

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 the Southwestern United States, they are short-haired, dark in colour and their paws are smaller and less padded. As climates get colder and more northerly, lynx have progressively thicker fur, lighter colour, and their paws are larger and more padded to adapt to the snow.

The four living species of the genus Lynx are believed to have evolved from Lynx issiodorensis, 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.[12][13]

Of the four lynx species, the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) is the largest in size. It is native to European, Central Asian, and Siberian forests. While its conservation status has been classified as "least concern", populations of Eurasian lynx have been reduced or extirpated from 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 is roe deer. It will feed however on whatever animal appears easiest, as it is an opportunistic predator much like its cousins.[12]

The Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), or Canadian lynx, is a North American felid that ranges in forest and tundra regions[14] across Canada and into Alaska, as well as some parts of the northern United States. Historically, the Canadian lynx ranged from Alaska across Canada and into many of the northern U.S. states. In the eastern states, it resided in the transition zone in which boreal coniferous forests yielded to deciduous forests.[15] By 2010, after an 11-year effort, it had been successfully reintroduced into Colorado, where it had become extirpated in the 1970s.[16][17][18] In 2000, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated the Canada lynx a threatened species in the lower 48 states.[19]

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 on snowshoe hares; its population is highly dependent on the population of this prey animal. It will also hunt medium-sized mammals and birds if hare numbers fall.[14]

The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is an endangered species native to the Iberian Peninsula in Southern Europe. It was the most endangered cat species in the world,[20] but conservation efforts have changed its status from critical to endangered. According to the Portuguese conservation group SOS Lynx, if this species dies out, it will be the first feline extinction since the Smilodon 10,000 years ago.[21] 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 central Europe in the Pleistocene epoch, being separated by habitat choice.[22] The Iberian lynx is believed to have evolved from Lynx issiodorensis.[23]

The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a North American wild cat. With 13 recognized subspecies, the bobcat is common throughout southern Canada, the continental United States, and northern Mexico.[24] Like the Eurasian lynx, its conservation status is "least concern."[25] 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.[26] The population of the bobcat depends primarily on the population of its prey.[27] Nonetheless, the bobcat is often killed by larger predators such as coyotes.[28]

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 from white-tailed deer, reindeer, roe deer, small red deer, and chamois, to smaller, more usual prey: snowshoe hares, fish, foxes, sheep, squirrels, mice, turkeys and other birds, and goats. It also eats ptarmigans, voles, and grouse.

The Eurasian lynx ranges from central and northern Europe across Asia up to Northern Pakistan and India. In Iran, they live in Mount Damavand area.[29] Since the beginning of the 20th century, the Eurasian lynx was considered extinct in the wild in Slovenia and Croatia. 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's Plitvice Lakes National Park and Risnjak National Park. In both countries, the lynx is listed as an endangered species and protected by law. The lynx was distributed throughout Japan during Jōmon period; with no paleontological evidence thereafter suggesting extinction at that time.[30]

Several lynx resettlement projects begun in the 1970s have been successful in various regions of Switzerland. Since the 1990s, there have been numerous efforts to resettle the Eurasian lynx in Germany, and since 2000, a small population can now be found in the Harz mountains near Bad Lauterberg.

The lynx is found in the Białowieża Forest in northeastern Poland, in Estonia and in the northern and western parts of China, particularly the Tibetan Plateau. In Romania, the numbers exceed 2,000, the largest population in Europe outside of Russia, although most experts consider the official population numbers to be overestimated.[31]

The endangered Iberian lynx lives in southern Spain and formerly in eastern Portugal.[needs update] There is an Iberian lynx reproduction center outside Silves in the Algarve in southern Portugal.

The two Lynx species in North America, Canada lynx and bobcats, are both found in the temperate zone. While the bobcat is common throughout southern Canada, the continental United States and northern Mexico, the Canada lynx is present mainly in boreal forests of Canada and Alaska.[24]

Many user questions are answered in the online help provided with Lynx. Press the '?' key to find this help.If you are encountering difficulty with Lynx you may write to lynx-dev@nongnu.org. Be as detailed as you can about the URL where you were on the Web when you had trouble, what you did, what Lynx version you have (try '=' key), and what OS you have. If you are using an older version, you may well need to upgrade.

The current development sources have the latest version of Lynx available (development towards 2.9.0). The main help page for lynx-current is online; the current User Guide is part of the online documentation.

The Canada lynx is one of the biggest wild cats in North America, but other species of these cats also inhabit Europe and Asia. The lynx is easy to spot with its huge furry paws, stubby tail, and long ear tufts. The huge paws serve as natural snowshoes to help them navigate the snowy, cold forests and mountains it calls home.

The size and weight of the animal depend on the species. The Eurasian lynx is the largest with males weighing between 40 and 66 pounds. It stands roughly 27 inches at the shoulder. The Canada lynx weighs between 18 and 31 pounds and stands between 19 and 22 inches at the shoulder. The Iberian lynx weighs 28 pounds for males and 20 pounds for females. Height varies between 23 and 27 inches at the shoulder. The bobcat weighs between 16 and 30 pounds and stands between 20 and 24 inches at the shoulder.

The Canada lynx mainly lives in Canada and Alaska but is also found in some northern US states like Washington, Montana, and Maine. Its habitat is primarily boreal forests, which are also known as snow forests and consist largely of coniferous trees.

This animal is an opportunistic predator and can hunt a wide range of animals. It is a strict carnivore. The Canada lynx strongly prefers the snowshoe hare, and its population numbers fluctuate with the availability of the hare. However, it will also hunt fish, squirrels, rabbits, birds, grouse, turkey, and more. The larger Eurasian lynx often hunts larger animals such as deer, reindeer, and even elk.

These animals are primarily threatened by other predators larger than it as well as humans. The Eurasian lynx is one of the largest predators in Europe, with only the gray wolf and brown bear being larger. In North America, the cougar, gray wolf, and coyote pose threats to the lynx. Humans have often hunted lynx for their fur, but some species are now protected, depending on the region. The Eurasian and Canadian lynx are most vulnerable to loss of habitat. Both are also dependent on prey numbers remaining healthy. The bobcat is the least endangered of all lynx species, and its numbers remain well into the hundreds of thousands despite being actively hunted by humans. 041b061a72