Red or red lynx (lat. Lynx rufus). Lynx: Eurasian, Canadian, red, Spanish See what “Red Lynx” is in other dictionaries

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Common lynxes and bobcats are not much different from each other, being a species of small cats that live in North America. On average they reach one meter in length (3 feet). Both have short tails, squat bodies, and are well adapted to survive in harsh environments.

The bobcat is easily identified by its short tail and spotted coat. In winter you can often see her hunting during the daytime.

At first glance, it is difficult to distinguish a common lynx from a red lynx. But, taking a closer look, you can see that the red lynx has more spotted skin. This gives her the opportunity to remain unnoticed in the dense vegetation of the rocky terrain where she prefers to settle.

The lynx differs from other cats in that it has a very short tail, but otherwise it is a typical cat with huge paws and very sharp claws. In addition, she has extremely developed hearing, and the tips of her pointed ears are crowned with beautiful tufts of long hair.

The lynx's skin, covered with thick, short gray-brown fur, helps it camouflage well against the background of mosses and lichens. In different places where lynxes live, the color of their fur is also different. She changes in wide range- from smooth without spots to densely spotted.

Where does it live?

Lynxes usually live in North America and in the forests northern Europe, where winters can be harsh. Lynx can live in temperatures as low as 57° Celsius (70° Fahrenheit). She easily moves through deep snow. Even her relatively short tail, as if cut off at the end, helps her adapt to the cold.

The red lynx lives in mountains and subtropical swamp forests, on bare mountain slopes, among cacti on desert plains, and at the same time in the cultural landscape and even in the vicinity of large cities.

As for the red lynx, it lives further south. In addition to North America, lynxes also live in sparsely populated areas of Europe, from Spain to Scandinavia, as well as into Eastern Siberia.

Lifestyle

The lynx can silently move through the forest, chasing its favorite prey - the hare. The lynx is able to detect small animals even under a layer of snow or hear and see them in complete darkness. The bobcat's prey is American wild rabbit. When hunting for him, she relies more on sight than hearing.

It feeds primarily on voles, squirrels, and other rodents, but occasionally attacks wild turkeys, domestic chickens, and even white-tailed deer and sheep.

The red lynx is able to detect small mammals even under the snow, where they hid in holes. The lynx unmistakably finds its victims by barely audible sounds coming from under the snow. The numbers of red lynx and hares always depend on each other. When there are a lot of hares, the lynx reproduces well. As the number of hares decreases, the number of lynxes also decreases.

The fertility and reproduction of lynxes are determined and directly depend on the abundance of food. When there are a lot of rabbits, the lynx does not have to go far in search of prey. However, when there are not enough rabbits, the lynx can sometimes get into fights with other lynxes over food.

The breeding season is not confined to a strictly defined season, but mating usually occurs in the spring. Some females can produce 2 litters per year. The gestation period for the red lynx is only 50 days. There are usually 2, but sometimes 4 kittens in a litter.

Females are content with smaller territories than males. A male can occupy a territory that is three times larger than the habitat of two or even three females. Rival males rarely encounter each other. Their domains are marked with strong-smelling excrement and other secretions.

Their favorite hunting trails are also littered with urine marks. These marks serve as signals to other bobcats to stay away.

Squad - Predators

Family - Felines

Genus/Species - Felis rufus

Basic data:

DIMENSIONS

Length: 50-80 cm, tail 15 cm.

Height at withers: 50-60 cm.

Weight: on average 6 kg, some individuals can reach 16 kg.

REPRODUCTION

Puberty: from the year; males take part in mating no earlier than two years of age.

Mating period: February March; females sometimes bear offspring twice a year.

Pregnancy: 52 days.

Number of cubs: 2-4.

LIFESTYLE

Habits: singles; active at night.

Lifespan: in captivity for more than 30 years.

RELATED SPECIES

28 other types of small ones wild cats, among them is a domestic cat.

The red lynx, which is able to easily adapt, can be found almost everywhere: in mountainous regions and forest-steppes, in subtropical swamps and among cactus thickets. Only among the open, deprived tall vegetation steppe, the red lynx feels uncomfortable.

FOOD

The red lynx's diet consists of two-thirds hares and rabbits. The rest are mostly small rodents, such as squirrels and mice. Sometimes lynxes also prey on deer, sheep or goats, and even domestic dogs and cats. The red lynx rushes at its prey from behind. Having approached the prey at a fairly short distance, the predator silently jumps on it and, knocking it to the ground, kills it. The red lynx grabs its prey by the throat with its teeth and does not let go until the victim dies. With its strong teeth, the lynx bites the victim's carotid artery and breaks the neck. The red lynx plays with small prey like a cat plays with a mouse.

HABITS

The red lynx is a nocturnal animal. She usually goes hunting at dusk. In the north in winter time The red lynx also hunts during the day, since it does not have enough food during this period. The red lynx is a territorial animal. The lynx marks the boundaries of the site and its paths with urine and feces. In addition, she leaves marks of her claws on trees. The male learns that the female is ready to mate by the smell of her urine. A mother with cubs is very aggressive towards any animal or person that threatens her kittens.

REPRODUCTION

The only time when individuals of different sexes seek meetings is mating season, which occurs at the end of winter - the beginning of spring. The male mates with all the females that are in the same area with him. The female's pregnancy lasts only 52 days. Cubs are born in the spring, blind and helpless. At this time, the female tolerates the male only not far from the den. After about a week, the babies' eyes open slightly, but for another eight weeks they remain with their mother and are fed with her milk. The mother licks their fur and warms them with her body. The female red lynx is a very caring mother. In case of danger, she moves the kittens to another shelter.

When do the cubs begin to accept solid food, the mother allows the male to approach the den. The male regularly brings food to the cubs and helps the female raise them. This kind of parental care is unusual phenomenon for male wild cats. When the kids grow up, the whole family travels, stopping for a short time in various hiding places of the female's hunting area. When the kittens are 4-5 months old, the mother begins to teach them hunting techniques. At this time, kittens play a lot with each other and through games they learn about in various ways obtaining food, hunting and behavior in difficult situations. The cubs spend another 6-8 months with their mother (before the start of the new mating season).

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

• Red lynxes raised by humans are tamed and become pets, they even allow their owners to pet them.
• The red lynx goes hunting during the day only during the winter period.
• The red lynx is a good swimmer, but rarely enters the water of its own free will. The exception is hot, sunny days, at this time the lynx, in order to cool down, plunges into the water up to its neck.
• The English name for the red lynx draws attention to its curved, short tail.
• The further north of the range you go, the larger the lynxes that are found there.

BORN LYNX AREA

A male red lynx often occupies an area of ​​100 km2; border areas may be shared by several males. The female's area is half the size. Within the territory of one male, 2-3 females usually live. A male red lynx, whose territory is often home to three females and cubs, must provide food for 12 kittens.

- Range of the red lynx

LIVING PLACE

The red lynx is found in North America from southern Canada to southern Mexico.

PRESERVATION

The bobcat is the most common wild cat in North America, although in the north it is still hunted for its fur and sporting interest. The Mexican subspecies is in danger of extinction.

Lynx (lat. Felis lynx) - the most northern of the cat species. In many European countries it has been completely or almost completely exterminated. Nowadays it is found only in Russia, Finland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Spain, Yugoslavia, Albania, Greece, and Ukraine in the Carpathians. This is a typical cat the size of a large dog. The body is short, dense, 80-105 cm long. The weight of the animal is 8-15 kg. Moreover, in the northern regions, lynxes are larger and have long hair, while in the southern regions they are, as a rule, smaller and have shorter hair.

photo:John Dryzga

The tail is 20-35 cm long with a chopped end. The ears are triangular, pointed, with tassels growing at the ends. The paws are long, strong, very wide, especially the front ones. In winter they grow from below long hair and become like skis, so the specific load on the support of the lynx is several times less than that of other cats. This, along with high legs, serves as an adaptation to movement on loose, deep snow.

The head is small and round. The elongated hair on the sides of the muzzle forms "whiskers". The muzzle is short, the eyes are wide, the pupils are vertical. Shedding occurs twice a year: in spring and autumn. Lynx fur has no equal among cats - very thick, tall, and silky. Especially long hair on the belly.

Lynx appearance

photo: Josh Leonard

The color of the upper body and head is predominantly grayish-red with a bluish-silver or reddish tint. There are brown speckles on the back and sides. The belly is pure white with sparse speckling. Summer fur is coarser and shorter than winter fur. It is more intensely colored. The tail always has a dark tip. The ear tassel is also painted dark, while backside ears, sideburns and eye rims are usually whitish. U northern lynxes the color is more uniform and dull, the spots are rather weakly expressed. Lynxes living in southern Europe are brightly colored, with pronounced spotting.

Lynx distribution

photo: Wayne Dumbleton

Lynx is a forest animal. In most of its range it prefers closed, spruce-fir forests with dense undergrowth. Particularly favorable for lynx are areas with dissected terrain - low and middle mountains with gullies and deeply cut river valleys. The lynx avoids small trees.

It is also found in low-growing forests with thickets of bushes, in forest-steppe, forest-tundra, mountain rocks, but most often in the zone of the southern low-mountain taiga, where it is not as snowy and cold as in the northern coniferous forests, and there are quite a lot of different animals that you can hunt . Lynx loves mountain forests with rocky places.

Lynx lifestyle and nutrition

The lynx, like any predator, lives where there is enough food. Wide migrations are not typical for it. The basis of its diet consists of white hares, black grouse, partridges, rodents, and small ungulates. Lynx is an excellent hunter. During the day she rests in the den, and at dusk she goes hunting. Only young animals can hunt during the day. During the night the animal travels from 6 to 10 km. When there is a lack of prey, the hunting route increases. In winter, the predator walks very wide and deep on the hard crust. loose snow forces her to use the paths of other animals, old ski tracks and roads, ice on rivers.

The lynx also knows how to hide its tracks. When the snow cover is not continuous, the animal deftly steps over snowless spots, leaving no traces. The lynx has very fine hearing and sharp vision. The sense of smell is weak, but a lynx can find its prey using a fresh trail. The lynx is cautious, but not cowardly. Frightened, she leaves in large leaps or jumps onto the nearest tree or rock. Hearing a suspicious noise from afar, he leaves slowly, stopping often and listening. Despite all the caution, the lynx is not very afraid of people. In times of famine, she enters villages and cities in search of food.

The lynx most often hunts alone, but a mother lynx with grown-up lynx cubs often organizes a group hunt in winter. The lynx walks completely silently, merging with the background of the area. Having discovered a fresh trail or seen prey, the lynx very patiently sneaks up on it. The lynx hunts by stealth, that is, it approaches the prey at the shortest possible distance, favorable for a lightning-fast throw. Having approached a distance of about 10-15 meters, the lynx covers it with several jumps 2-3 meters long.

If the attack is not immediately successful, the huntress makes a dozen more shorter jumps into the hijack, which most often ends in nothing. Having rushed at large prey, the lynx digs its claws into the front of its body, and torments its neck or throat with its teeth. The victim, maddened by pain, drags the predator on him for some time until he falls from the wounds inflicted.

Lynx eats quite a bit. In winter, a male eats 2.5-3 kg of meat per day, and if the animal is hungry, up to 5-6 kg.

photo:Martien Uiterweerd

Usually an adult animal catches and eats a hare once every 2-4 days; a brood of this amount of food is only enough for one day. A lynx deals with a killed roe deer in 3-4 days, and with a hunted one sika deer lasts up to one and a half weeks. A well-fed lynx can even stay with a hare for several days until it eats it entirely, so as not to waste energy on a new hunt. She buries the uneaten remains of her prey with snow or earth.

But she does it so sloppily that her supplies are very quickly stolen by smaller predators - sable, weasel. The wolverine also follows the lynx, as a more successful hunter, and sometimes drives it away from its freshly caught prey. The lynx itself often chases foxes, preventing them from hunting in their area. The lynx, like a more successful hunter, is followed by and sometimes drives it away from a freshly caught victim.

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The bobcat is a medium-sized species of wild cat that is found in a variety of habitats throughout the southern half of North America. They are widespread and highly adaptable predators that are closely related to more large species northern Canadian lynx with the difference that the red lynx has only a small “cropped” tail, while the lynx has a longer and more bushy tail. Measuring twice the size of a house cat, the red lynx has the widest range of any North American feline, but their secretive nature means they are rarely seen by humans. There are currently twelve recognized subspecies of the red lynx, which vary in their coloration and geographic range: individuals found in mountain forest are darker than their lighter cousins, which are found in drier, semi-desert regions.
Anatomy and appearance
Due to the fact that the red lynx belongs to the same family as the lynx, they are similar in appearance, but not in everything. The red lynx is smaller in size and has smaller legs and ear tufts than Canadian lynx, and is often darker in color. The red lynx has beige, brown or reddish fur, variegated or spotted with the intensity of these markings depending on the individual and where it lives (those that live in more open, arid areas tend to be less brightly colored than those in which live in shady and damp places). The lower part of the red lynx's body has White color, so the dark spots on it are more distinctive, and they also have a white tip on their short, black tails, which only grow about 15 cm in length. As bobcats grow larger, they develop tufts of fur on their ears that serve to improve their hearing, along with a lush lining of fur around their faces.
Distribution and habitat
The bobcat is one of the most widely distributed of all North American felines and is found in North America from southern Canada all the way to southern Mexico. They are incredibly versatile animals that have adapted to live in a variety of habitats throughout all three years. different countries. Although red lynxes are known to prefer rocky slopes that are well covered with vegetation, they are found in a variety of numerous habitats throughout their natural range, including montane forests, coniferous forest, swamps, deserts and even suburban areas in some places. The exact appearance of the red lynx depends on what type of habitat, depending on the different colors, allows the individual to remain camouflaged in the surrounding area. The red lynx's historical range is throughout North America, but they are hunted for their fur and lost natural environment habitats have led to their extinction in some areas.
Behavior and lifestyle

The red lynx is a solitary and nocturnal animal that is most active in the darkness of the night, seeking to hunt most during dawn and dusk. During the day, red lynxes sleep and rest in dens in the form of rock crevices or tree hollows. One individual usually has several dens within its territory. Bobcats are highly territorial and mark their ranges with scent from their urine and feces, as well as distinctive claw marks on trees to alert others to their presence. Males patrol a large range of their territory, which is often overlapped by a number of smaller female territories, but the two sexes will not interact until the breeding season, which begins in winter period. At other times of the year, Red Rim tend to avoid each other to reduce the risk of them being injured in battle.

Life cycles and reproduction
Red lynxes are only found together during the breeding season, when both males and females may mate with multiple partners. After a gestation period that lasts for 8 to 10 weeks, the female red lynx gives birth to a litter of up to 6 kittens in a safe and secluded den. Red lynx kittens are born blind and open their eyes after about 10 days, feeding on their mother's milk until they are old enough to begin consuming meat. Most births occur in late winter or in early spring. Kittens usually do not stay with their mother until next winter and leave her when they are about eight months old and have learned how to hunt on their own. Female red lynx typically have one litter each year, and once mating the male has no role in raising the young.
Diet
The red lynx is a carnivorous feline, meaning that it hunts and eats other animals to obtain nutrients, thanks to which she must survive. The red lynx primarily hunts small mammals such as rabbits, hares and mice, along with birds and the occasional lizard. In harsh winter months they also hunt large animals, including deer, and also feed on carrion. The red lynx is an incredibly elusive predator that silently stalks its prey in the dark before pouncing on it with incredible force. Despite their size, red lynxes are known to be capable of killing animals that are significantly larger than themselves. IN populated areas bordering their natural habitat, red lynxes also sometimes attack livestock such as birds and sheep.
Predators and threats
The red lynx is a fierce and dominant predator in its natural habitat. Therefore, adult red lynxes are threatened by few animals, these include cougars and wolves. Small kittens and vulnerable bobcats, however, can become prey for coyotes and owls, which are able to hunt the kittens while the mother is away hunting. The biggest threat to red lynx populations throughout North America is humans, who previously hunted red lynxes for their soft fur and nearly exterminated the animals in some areas. In areas where red lynxes are now forced to share their natural ranges with growing numbers of people, they have also been hunted by farmers fearing for their livestock. Despite being highly adaptable animals, red lynxes are also threatened by habitat loss, with populations being pushed into smaller and more isolated regions of their once vast natural range.

Lynx is a representative of the northernmost species of the cat family. In many countries this predator has been practically exterminated. Nowadays, its habitats are Finland, Greece, Ukraine, Albania, Hungary, Romania, Spain, Czech Republic, Russia, Poland, Yugoslavia.

The red lynx is a fairly large cat, weighing on average from eight to fifteen kilograms, with a short body 80-105 centimeters long.

Lynxes living in more northern areas differ from southern representatives in their larger size and longer hair. The short tail, as if chopped off, has a length of 20-35 centimeters. The limbs are long, powerful and very wide, especially the front ones. In winter, they are covered with longer and thicker hair. This makes them similar to snowshoes not only in appearance, but also in their qualities, that is, the specific load on the animal’s legs is reduced, and in combination with high paws, this greatly facilitates movement in deep snow.

A neat round head, a short muzzle, large eyes with vertically located pupils, thick and long hair along the edges of the muzzle, creating whiskers, in harmony with sharp triangular ears with expressive tassels at the ends make the image of a lynx very cute.

The predator sheds twice a year in autumn and spring. Lynx fur is special, unlike any other fur of representatives of the cat world. It is tall, thick and silky, longest on the animal's belly.

Appearance

The saddle cloth and head have a color from reddish-steel to bluish-silver with a red tint. Brown specks are largest on the sides and back. The fur on the belly is snow-white with small, sparsely scattered specks. The lynx's summer outfit is much shorter and stiffer, and is colored more expressively. The ear tufts and tail tufts become black, while the edges around the eyes, the back of the ear and the whiskers become whiter. The lynxes of the north have a more restrained and subdued color and spotting than the lynxes of the southern territories of Europe.

Habitats

Most of the habitat of this predator is spruce-fir forests with a dense middle and lower layer. Mountain forests with rocky parts are especially loved by this cat. However, territories with rugged, dissected landscapes are also pleasant for her. The lynx also lives in low overgrown forests, forest-tundra, and forest-steppe. Most often you can find it in the southern reaches of the low-mountain taiga, with little snow and less cold, with a lot of game.

Nutrition and lifestyle

Like any animal, the lynx prefers places rich in prey. Long journeys are not for her. The diet consists of small ungulates, black grouse, various rodents, and partridges. This is a great hunter. Adult lynxes go hunting only at dusk; only young individuals can hunt during the day. During the night, the predator can cover a route of 6 to 10 kilometers. If there is a lack of food, the march may increase. In winter, lynxes walk widely on dense crust, and when the snow is very deep, they use the paths of other animals, ski paths, and ice massifs of rivers.

The lynx hides its tracks ingeniously. If the snow surface is not uniform, it carefully steps over snow dents, thereby leaving no noticeable imprints of its own.

Listen to the voice of the red lynx

The lynx more than compensates for its weak sense of smell with very sensitive hearing and sharp eyesight. This is a very cautious and prudent animal. Sudden danger may cause her to run away in huge leaps or climb onto greater height. When the suspicious noise is still far away, the lynx listens for a long time and peers before slowly moving away. But for all its cautious behavior, the lynx is not particularly afraid of humans. In particularly harsh and hungry winters, the lynx may visit villages and towns in search of food.

The lynx goes hunting alone. And only a mother lynx with her young lynx cubs can hunt in a group. Lynxes are the most inconspicuous, silent and patient hunters.

They hunt by stealth, which means they get close to the prey at a distance ideal for a lightning-fast jump. The animal overcomes a distance of 10-15 meters in several jumps 2-3 meters long. If the prey is not immediately caught, the hunter may give chase, which most often ends in nothing. Having attacked large prey, the lynx firmly digs its claws into the front part of the animal's carcass, mercilessly tearing the victim's throat with its fangs. The caught animal drags the predator along for some time in fruitless attempts to free itself.

In winter, a male lynx eats 2.5-3 kilograms of meat per day, and if he is very hungry, 5-6 kilograms. This is a rather small portion for such a predator.