El Lynx It is a very characteristic feline species for inhabiting the northern regions of America, Europe and Asia, especially in ecosystems where low temperatures predominate most of the year. In this post we tell you everything you need to know about these incredible creatures, don't miss it!
What is the Lynx?
Lynx It is the vulgar way of calling felines that have Lynx as their scientific name, it is a carnivorous feline and could be considered one of the fastest species when traveling long distances, although they are not so good bordering closed areas at short speed.
This species is part of the wildlife of europe and also some regions in southern Asia, however, it is believed that these mammals are actually native to North America, where some species still inhabit. Of these cats there are only 4 species that are widespread in the regions already mentioned above.
Depending on the type of lynx cat Whatever it is, physical traits and behaviors can vary a lot, however, most of these species are very similar and have very unique characteristics with which we can easily differentiate them from others, such as their long ears and the tuft of hair that stands out of them, thanks to these they can hear very well.
Physical Characteristics of the Lynx
Its fur is the perfect coat for cold climates and depending on the species, the hair can be longer and denser, but these species cannot live in spaces where there are very high temperatures. The tonalities of his body vary a lot depending on the type of lynx, but the colors can be coppery, light brown, dull yellow and greyish, the latter depending on the type of climate.
They have large legs whose shape could be compared to that of a racket, these are completely adapted to the way of life that these animals lead and are very useful when performing certain activities, such as when they jump very high (approximately 5 meters) with the intention of reaching their prey, or also to walk on the snow.
Physically they have an impressive resemblance to domestic cats that are usually part of the cat group. big cats, although the fur can resemble other types of cats thanks to the stripes and points that tend to be darker than the fur. They have a tail that is surprisingly very small for their size, barely reaching 8 centimeters and measuring a maximum of 14 centimeters, in adults.
The size of these animals also depends on the species, the largest can reach up to 130 centimeters in height, while the smallest barely reaches 70 centimeters, on the other hand, the weight of these species is not much either, the maximum that can weigh a lynx they are 30 kilograms, and the minimum would be 15 to 20 kilograms.
Behavior
The different species of lynx They are very solitary, spending most of their lives alone, except in the breeding season and sometimes when several specimens of the same type come together to hunt together. They are characterized by being very good predators, very stealthy and agile when jumping towards their prey.
Their daily habits and activities are closely related to the weather, since they are very active animals when it is very cold and they can be on the move from the wee hours of the morning, with low temperatures they could be active all day. On the other hand, when summer arrives and the heat increases, the rhythm of their activities slows down and their schedule turns night.
The behavior that lynx adopt while in captivity will depend on the age at which they are hunted, since if they are kept since they are small or from birth, they tend to have a very passive character that turns out to be very attractive for display, but if they are caught when they are adults they behave in a very apathetic way and do not tend to move to do anything.
Food
The lynx they have a very structured home system, their diet is mainly based on small mammals, such as rabbits and small deer, rodents such as squirrels and mice, although they can also feed on birds and fish, thanks to their great ability to climb and swim. If they are in need, they are able to feed on reptiles and insects.
When it comes to food, lynx Captive animals are very picky, they like quality meat and they need to change their diet every time they get bored, otherwise they won't eat.
Habitat and distribution
As we mentioned before, the different types of lynx We can find them in different regions of Asia, Europe and America, more specifically in the northern areas. Although unfortunately, one of the four species is on the list of endangered mammals, while the other types could enter the list in the near future.
The habitat may vary depending on the species, but they usually live in cold areas, which can be cold forests or tundras, which is why their body is very well adapted to survive in these spaces.
Reproduction of the Lynx
At 3 years is that the female reaches sexual maturity, on the other hand men reach 2 years, but they do not have a good ability to procreate until they reach 3 years. As we mentioned before, the lynx They prefer to be alone and it is not because they do not get others of their kind, but rather they simply prefer to avoid each other with the intention of not getting along, however, in periods of heat it is something very different.
The insinuation begins at the end of December or the beginning of February, when both sexes of the species give off a strong scent and mark the entire area where they pass. The real period of reproduction occurs between the months of February and March, the male makes sounds to attract the attention of the female, but he does not beg and she chooses whether to attend to the call or pass by.
When both specimens meet, they first take the time to greet each other before taking action, they sniff, caress and lick each other during courtship, then they remain coupled for several days, which is the time that the encounter lasts and at At the end, each one goes his way, the female does not have another encounter again perhaps until the next year and the male goes in search of another partner with which to copulate.
The female can only give birth once a year and her main concern is to find a place to live where both she and her young can feel safe, gestation lasts approximately 70 days, the most normal thing is that they are born from 2 to 4 pups, although larger litters can also be given birth.
Development
The pups of lynx they are born without the sense of hearing or sight, as they grow they finish developing in a process that can last as long as 10 days. During the first weeks, the main concern of the puppies is sleeping and feeding, it is between a month and a half, and two months that the pups begin to move and develop their locomotor limbs.
The puppies begin to discover and get to know their surroundings, always in the company of their mother, who remains very attentive to them and hunts for their food so that they develop their hunting instincts. The mother decides to separate from the cubs after 12 months, which is when they begin to hunt mainly at night, all with the intention that they learn to survive on their own.
Lynx Species
The characteristics of lynx They can vary a lot depending on the species to which they belong, which, as we already mentioned, are 4 and these are distributed throughout the northern hemisphere around the world.
Eurasian Lynx
Also known as the Lynx Boreal and as its name indicates, it can be found in the cold forests that are distributed in Europe and Asia, it can be easily distinguished from the others as it is the largest species, and can reach 70 centimeters in height.
Despite its height, this species almost never manages to exceed 40 kilograms in weight. Another very striking feature in this species are the circles that it has around its entire body, giving it an appearance similar to The jaguar. Their fur is usually brown, but can change to shades of gray in the colder seasons.
canadian lynx
It is distributed throughout the cold regions in Canada, the United States and Alaska, its fur is usually dull yellow and in some cases brown, the greatest height they can reach is 90 centimeters. They have very thick and dense fur that is distributed throughout their body, and they are very characteristic thanks to their whiskers, which gives them an appearance more similar to that of cats.
It is a species that is usually highly hunted in the places where it lives, especially in the United States, where the trafficking and commercialization of its skins is highly demanded.
Iberian lynx
characteristics of the Iberian lynx they are very remarkable thanks to their pointed ears, long fur and huge eyes, this together with the beautiful circles and stripes that are distributed throughout their body, give the animal an extremely exotic appearance. The tonality of their hair is a little reddish and they usually have it long, but it can be shortened in the seasons when it is hotter.
This species can be found in several areas of Europe, Asia and America, however this species is currently in danger of extinction thanks to the loss of habitats and the massive hunting to which they are exposed by human beings.
Bobcat
This species can adapt much better than the other types of lynx, being able to withstand the heat and rarely living in the desert, they are very good at hunting and together with the red color of their fur, it may not be noticed in the eyes of many prey, until the moment in which the feline jump on top They are smaller compared to other species of lynx.
These can be found in some areas of Canada and Mexico, however, they can be considered extinct in the regions of the United States, where hunting of this species occurred in large numbers.
