Difference between revisions of "Lynx" - New World Encyclopedia
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==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| − | The lynx inhabits the high altitude forests with dense cover of | + | The lynx inhabits the high altitude forests with dense cover of [[shrub]]s, reeds, and [[grass]]. Although the lynx is largely terrestrial and hunts on the ground, it can climb trees, and it also swims, catching fish. Even though lynx are found in the northern regions of Scandinavia, they primarily are found in North America and also in pockets in the [[Himalayas]]. |
| − | + | The critically endangered Iberian lynx lives in southern [[Spain]]; previous, it was also found in eastern [[Portugal]]. | |
| − | Canadian Lynx have been observed (2006) in the Wet Mountains of Colorado. In recent years, a few lynx sightings were reported in the southern Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina, specifically in the area from Mount Mitchell across to the Shope Creek Forest area (part of Pisgah National Forrest). One lynx was even caught alive in a cage trap at Graystone Cabins near Barnardsville, NC—the animal was later released into a wilderness area within Madison County, NC. Although the USFWS officials still deny the presence of lynx in the southern Appalachians, the most recent sighting was reported in Sept 2007, along the Shope Creek Forest area. USFWS officials have said, if these were bona fide lynx sightings, they were most likely illegally-held pets, which were released or had escaped. | + | Lynx is more common in northern Europe—especially in Estonia, Finland, and the northern parts of Russia. 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 re-introduced the 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. Lynx-spotting can be arranged in cooperation with the Risnjak National Park. Several lynx-resettlement projects begun in the 1970's have been successful in various regions of [[Switzerland]]. Since the 1990s, there have been numerous efforts to resettle the Eurasian lynx in [[Germany]]. The lynx is found in the [[Białowieża Forest]] in northeastern [[Poland]]. |
| + | |||
| + | The Canadian lynx or North American lynx, ''Lynx canadensis'', have been observed (2006) in the Wet Mountains of Colorado. In recent years, a few lynx sightings were reported in the southern Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina, specifically in the area from Mount Mitchell across to the Shope Creek Forest area (part of Pisgah National Forrest). One lynx was even caught alive in a cage trap at Graystone Cabins near Barnardsville, NC—the animal was later released into a wilderness area within Madison County, NC. Although the USFWS officials still deny the presence of lynx in the southern Appalachians, the most recent sighting was reported in Sept 2007, along the Shope Creek Forest area. USFWS officials have said, if these were bona fide lynx sightings, they were most likely illegally-held pets, which were released or had escaped. | ||
==Behavior== | ==Behavior== | ||
Revision as of 19:54, 24 May 2008
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 Canadian Lynx
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| Felis lynx Linnaeus, 1758 | ||||||||||||||
 The overall range of Lynx species.
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Lynx lynx |
Lynx (plural lynxes or lynx) is both the common and scientific name for a taxon of medium-sized wild cats of North America, Europe, and Asia, characterized by tufted ears, long legs, short tails, large paws, and short heads. Part of the cat family Felidae, the taxonomic group Lynx generally is placed at the genus level (ITIS 2006; Garcia-Perea 1992; Wozencraft 2005; Werdelin 1981; Myers et al. 2008); however, some authorities place this taxon as a subgenus within the genus Felis (McKenna and Bell 1997; Hemmer 1978).
There are four extant species of lynx, the Canadian lynx (Lynx canadensis), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), and bobcat (Lynx rufus).
Overview and description
Lynx are part of the Felidae family, which belongs to the Carnivora order within the mammals (class Mammalia). Members of the family are called cats and sometimes felines. Cats are more strictly carnivorous (meat eating) than most other members of Carnivora (carnivores). The teeth of cats are well suited to their diet, with long canines for gripping prey and blade-like molars for cutting flesh (Voelker 1986).
All cats walk on four feet, in a digitigrade manner—that is on their toes. Their hind legs are longer and stronger than their fore legs, which gives them strength for sprinting and leaping, but not stamina for long distance running. Cats have claws on their feet that are used for gripping prey, for fighting, and for climbing. In the lynx, as with most cats, the claws can be retracted into the toes, which helps keep them sharp. The bodies of all cats (except some breeds of domestic cat) are covered with thick fur. In most species, this is spotted or striped.
Felidae usually is divided into two subfamilies, Pantherinae (which includes "big cats" like lions, jaguars, tigers, and leopards) and Felinae (which includes the "small cats," although some can be large, like the cougar). Lynx are part of the Felinae subfamily.
Lynx are placed in the genus or subgenus Lynx. Garcia-Perea (1992), ITIS (2006), Wozencraft (2005), Werdelin (1981), and Myers et al. (2008) are authors who recognize the generic status of Lynx. Others, however, such as McKenna and Bell (1997) and Hemmer (1978), consider Lynx to be a subgenus within Felis. Felis was the original genus into which these wild cats were originally placed.
All lynx have short tails and characteristic tufts of black hair on the tip of the ears. They have a ruff under the neck, which has black bars (not very visible), resembling a bow tie. They have large paws padded for walking on snow and long whiskers on the face. The body color varies from light brown to gray; and occasionally, is marked with dark brown spots, especially on the limbs. They range from about 15 kilograms (33 pounds) to about 30 kilograms (66 pounds). The Eurasian lynx is significantly larger than the other species, while the Iberian lynx is significantly smaller.
Habitat
The lynx inhabits the high altitude forests with dense cover of shrubs, reeds, and grass. Although the lynx is largely terrestrial and hunts on the ground, it can climb trees, and it also swims, catching fish. Even though lynx are found in the northern regions of Scandinavia, they primarily are found in North America and also in pockets in the Himalayas.
The critically endangered Iberian lynx lives in southern Spain; previous, it was also found in eastern Portugal.
Lynx is more common in northern Europe—especially in Estonia, Finland, and the northern parts of Russia. 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 re-introduced the 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. Lynx-spotting can be arranged in cooperation with the Risnjak National Park. Several lynx-resettlement projects begun in the 1970's have been successful in various regions of Switzerland. Since the 1990s, there have been numerous efforts to resettle the Eurasian lynx in Germany. The lynx is found in the Białowieża Forest in northeastern Poland.
The Canadian lynx or North American lynx, Lynx canadensis, have been observed (2006) in the Wet Mountains of Colorado. In recent years, a few lynx sightings were reported in the southern Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina, specifically in the area from Mount Mitchell across to the Shope Creek Forest area (part of Pisgah National Forrest). One lynx was even caught alive in a cage trap at Graystone Cabins near Barnardsville, NC—the animal was later released into a wilderness area within Madison County, NC. Although the USFWS officials still deny the presence of lynx in the southern Appalachians, the most recent sighting was reported in Sept 2007, along the Shope Creek Forest area. USFWS officials have said, if these were bona fide lynx sightings, they were most likely illegally-held pets, which were released or had escaped.
Behavior
General behavioral traits resemble that of a leopard. Lynx are usually solitary, although a small group of lynx may travel and hunt together. Mating takes place in the late winter and they give birth to 2 to 4 kittens once a year. The young stay with the mother for one more winter; and then, the young adults can live on their own. Lynx will have their dens in crevices or under ledges. They feed on a wide range of animals from Reindeer, Roe Deer, small Red Deer, and Chamois, to smaller, more usual prey: birds, and small mammals, like snowshoe hares, fish, sheep, and goats.
Spotting a lynx is a very rare event in and of itself, due to the extremely shy and solitary nature of the animal. It is a secretive cat that usually avoids people. Lynx have very rarely been reported to attack humans; and in those cases, they are almost exclusively in self-defense.
Legal status
- Hunting lynxes is illegal in many countries.
- The Iberian Lynx is critically endangered with extinction and the killing of any individuals has been outlawed since the 1970s in Spain and Portugal[2].
- In 2000, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service designated the Canadian Lynx a Threatened species in the lower 48 states.[3]
See also
- Lynx (mythology)
- Wildcat, a small predator native to Europe, the western part of Asia, and Africa
Notes
- ↑ W. C. Wozencraft, "Order Carnivora," page(s) 541-542 in D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder, eds., Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2005). ISBN 0801882214.
- ↑ The Iberian Lynx Emergency. Dan Ward (2004). Retrieved 2007-05-13.
- ↑ http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/federal_register/fr3552.pdf 65 Federal Register 16051 16086
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Garcia-Perea, R. 1992. New data on the systematics of lynxes. Cat News 16: 15-16.
- Hemmer, H. 1978. The evolutionary systematics of living Felidae: Present status and current problems. Carnivore 1(1):71-79.
- Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). 2006. Lynx Kerr, 1792 ITIS Taxonomic Serial No.: 180581. Retrieved May 24, 2008.
- McKenna, M. C., and S. K. Bell. 1997. Classification of Mammals Above the Species Level. New York, NY: Columbia University Press. ISBN 023111012X.
- Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey. 2008. Genus Lynx (lynxes). The Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved May 24, 2008.
- Voelker, W. 1986. The Natural History of Living Mammals. Medford, New Jersey: Plexus Publishing. ISBN 0937548081.
- Werdelin, L. 1981. The evolution of lynxes. Annales Zoologici Fennici 18: 37-71.
- Wozencraft, W. 2005. Order Carnivora. Pp. 532-628 in D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder, eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0801882214.
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
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