Today we will talk about:

Lynx - description, appearance, size.

The body length of the lynx is about 80-130 cm. The weight of males is from 18 to 25 kg, female lynxes weigh about 17-18 kg. The body is short and dense. Tail with a cut off end. These cats have fluffy tassels on their ears. Lynxes have elongated fur on their beards, giving the appearance of a "whisker". The muzzle is round and small. The eyes are huge with vertical pupils. The lynx's fur is thick, beautiful, and silky. The belly is white, occasionally with white patches. The paws are very large and fluffy, which makes it possible to walk on snow and snowdrifts in winter. Lynx color depends on the geographical area of ​​its habitat: from red to grayish-brown. The lifespan of a lynx is about 15-20 years.

Lynx belongs to the cat family, but is an extremely dangerous animal from the entire family. Outwardly, it is very similar to a cat, but has huge, stronger paws, covered with thick fur, and lives in the forest. A beautiful and large lynx. The tips of the cat's ears are decorated with small tassels, the tail is small, about 35 centimeters.

The lynx has a beautiful, warm fur coat of a reddish color and small dark specks throughout the body of the animal. The muzzle is small, but with large eyes, the cheeks have hair similar to sideburns. In winter and summer, the lynx's coat type is thicker; in summer, the coat is less abundant than in winter.

The lifestyle of lynxes.

Lynx lives in dense forests, taiga, forest-steppe and forest-tundra. The lynx is excellent at climbing trees and rocks and swims well. The color of the lynx with its spotting allows it to camouflage itself during the day among the rays of light. This animal can walk about 30 km per day. The lynx goes hunting at dusk or at night.
She sits in ambush and waits for the victim. Adult lynx eats a hare in 3-4 days, and deals with a roe deer in 4-5 days. The lynx is not very afraid of people. These animals are dangerous predators, but they often hunt for sick forest inhabitants. Trot speed about 20 km per hour, and during a rapid rush the trot speed can reach 40 km per hour.

The animal is very strong and dexterous, climbs trees remarkably well and is completely calm about water; if necessary, it will swim across a large body of water. The lynx is very hardy, thanks to which it can pursue its prey for a long time. In addition, she is patient and silent. Lynx loves to feast on hares, forest birds, deer and roe deer, if he is in the vicinity of villages, he does not refuse cats and dogs.

Types of lynxes.

There are several types of lynx: common lynx, Canadian lynx, Iberian lynx, red lynx. Sometimes the marbled cat and caracal are also classified as lynxes.

Three girls in the evening.. The lynx is very cunning and dexterous, the traps placed by hunters are often empty because of this robber, there are no obstacles for her, especially deep snow, she easily overcomes it. The lynx lives in small holes in the roots of trees; in caves or crevices, it also does not hesitate to occupy other people’s holes, the main thing is that they are safe.

Unlike pumas, lynxes live and raise their cubs in pairs and go hunting with them. Lynx cubs are born blind, but after two days they open their eyes.

Due to the fact that the paws have fluffy fur, this allows them to move silently on any surface. Lynxes live in the north, although previously they could be found in every corner of Europe, but previously most of the lynxes were exterminated. On this moment They are listed in the Red Book, which contributed to a decrease in hunting for them and replenishment of the population of the cat family.

Lynx and man Lynxes do not attack people, they try to bypass them and hide, but if they sense danger, they go on the defensive, they pierce the flesh of a person with their sharp claws, leaving the victim not a single chance of survival. Sometimes even hunters going after an animal with a gun do not cause her any fear; she understands for sure that this is an unjustified risk and it is not worth fighting with a gun. But there are also cats that approach people with apprehension and caution, but approach them feeling safe; the main thing at this moment is not to make sudden movements, so as not to frighten the animal or anger it.
In recent years lynx also used as a pet, despite its height, it is still a cat. If you take her as a kitten, she will be an affectionate and fluffy pet.
Lynxes are very smart, but at the same time arrogant; any fox will envy her skills, abilities and beautiful spotted coat.

Among the numerous species of cats, only the lynx is found in the northern regions. Human activity has contributed to the partial, and in some places, complete disappearance of this representative of the animal kingdom in Europe. Today you can meet a lynx only in some countries; this wild animal is protected by law in many of them. The species is widespread in Russia Siberian lynx, the description of which we will analyze in this article.

Appearance of the animal

The lynx belongs to and belongs to the order of predators. It looks like it but in reality it is dangerous forest cat. This species mainly lives in dark coniferous forests. What does the Siberian lynx look like? Let's try to take a closer look:

• The size of the lynx is approximately the same as that of adult large dogs.
• Its body length reaches a maximum of 135 cm, and its tail is approximately 45 cm.
• The head is small, round in shape.
• The cat has a short muzzle, on which wide eyes with round pupils shine.
• The lynx's ears are decorated with soft tassels.
• The body is short and dense in structure.
• On the lynx's muzzle (on the sides) hang long hair. In my own way appearance they resemble sideburns.
• The Siberian lynx has very powerful paws with sharp claws, which it uses as a weapon when hunting.
• The length of the claws can reach 10 cm. They look like a curved hook.
• During the cold season, the black pads on the lynx's paws become overgrown with thick, short hair.
• The shape of the sole has a unique structure, which allows the predator to easily move across snowy expanses.
• The color is varied and depends on whether red with a brown tint and dark smoky colors are found in individuals living in the forests of Siberia.

The fur of this cat species is very valuable, which is why the animal often became the object of hunting. Many people are interested in: how much does the Siberian lynx weigh? In nature, there were individuals whose weight reached 30 kg. On average, the weight of males is 18-25 kg, for females this figure does not exceed 18 kg.

Where is the species distributed?

Lynxes are the only species of cats that live in the northern regions of our planet. In the Scandinavian countries, the predator was encountered in the Arctic Circle. The habitat of the lynx until the middle of the 20th century was very wide. These cats could be seen throughout Western and Central Europe. Their numbers have sharply decreased due to mass shooting. Poachers destroyed animals for their valuable fur.

Today you can meet lynx in the following European countries:

• Hungary.
• Spain.
• Macedonia.
• Poland.
• Romania.
• Serbia.
• Slovenia.
• Czech Republic.
• Sweden.

On Russian territory The Siberian lynx is found in the region of Sakhalin and Kamchatka, and it appeared in these places not so long ago. The main habitat of the wild cat is the Siberian taiga.

On the territory of Ukraine, such an animal can be seen very rarely and only in the mountainous areas of the Carpathians.

Lifestyle

Lynx (photo) is a predatory animal, and unlike other animals, it has a number of advantages that allow it to survive in forest conditions. The cat expertly climbs trees, can swim, makes long jumps and runs fast. It lives mainly in dark coniferous forests, but sometimes the animal wanders into the forest-tundra or forest-steppe. There have been cases when the beast was seen outside the Arctic Circle.

If there are a large number of Siberian lynx in the area where the Siberian lynx has settled, it can lead a sedentary life. But as soon as a problem arises with obtaining food, the cat migrates in search of a hot spot.

How does the Siberian lynx hunt?

The predatory cat goes hunting exclusively at night. She approaches her prey as carefully as possible, trying to remain unnoticed. A lynx can hide in the bushes or near a fallen tree, waiting for the animal to approach the predator. After waiting for the most appropriate moment (the distance is 10-15 m), the cat rushes towards the prey. The attacked animal dies in a matter of minutes in the paws of the lynx, as it digs its sharp fangs into its neck, tearing muscle tissue and arteries. The prey has no chance at all to survive. Having eaten heavily, the cat hides what is left of its prey in the snow or branches. Very often the trot is followed by a wolverine, which cannot boast of such hunting skills, but loves to have a snack at someone else’s expense.

When it comes to large prey, attacks are not always successful. When attacking a roe deer or deer, a lynx may end up with nothing, since the victim is capable of dragging the predator along with it for some time, and sometimes even eluding it altogether. But in most cases, a lynx hunt ends in victory for the cat.

What does a lynx eat?

Into the diet predatory cat includes the following animals:

• fox;
• white hare;
• partridge;
• roe deer and sika deer;
• grouse;
• raccoon dog;
• beaver;
• wild boar piglet.

In severe winter, when there is a lack of prey in the forest, the Siberian lynx can leave its usual environment and go to human habitats. Here she attacks domestic animals: cats and dogs.

The predator cannot be called voracious; one killed hare lasts her for half a week, with the exception of lactating females, who are able to eat such a volume of food at one time. If the cat has caught a large animal, the meat will last for 7-10 days.

Lynx breeding

The lynx (you can see the photo in the article) is a solitary animal. Only during the breeding season do cats form a pair. The mating season occurs at the beginning of March. At this time, lynxes behave very quietly. Several males can accompany the female at once, periodically arranging fights among themselves.

The resulting pair proceeds to the “greeting” stage, sniffing each other. Then they begin to rub their heads, and their actions resemble butting a large cattle. A little later they lick the fur of their partner.

Female lynx reach sexual maturity at 2 years, while males reach this age at 35 months.

The duration of pregnancy is 65-70 days. The female gives birth to 2 to 5 kittens in one litter. For childbirth future mom is prepared thoroughly. Most often, she chooses holes, caves in rocks and other safe places.

At birth, kittens are blind, and their weight is no more than 350 g. The eyes of small lynxes open on the 12th day. The female feeds them for a month breast milk, as soon as the babies are stronger and can feed themselves, she accustoms them to the natural diet for lynxes.

Lynx at home

It is very difficult to answer unequivocally how dangerous the Siberian lynx is at home. Breeding wild animals is a serious step, and a person who decides to do this must approach this issue with all responsibility and understanding.

Since the claws of a wild animal are very sharp, it is necessary to trim them regularly. Like domestic cats, the lynx often swallows hairballs, so you need to constantly groom and brush it.

No matter how cute the animal may seem, having such a pet in a family with small children is not recommended. A predator is always a predator. The owner has no guarantees that forgotten instincts will not awaken in the wild pet.

Lynxes are large predators, which, despite their size, are closely related to ordinary wild cats and domestic cats. There are 4 types of lynx - common, Canadian, red and Spanish. These species are similar in appearance and lifestyle.

Canadian lynx (Lynx canadensis).

The appearance of lynxes is quite different from other types of cats. These are animals the size of an average dog: body length can reach up to 1 m, weight from 5-7 kg (for the red lynx) to 12-20 kg for other species. The body of these animals is relatively short, and the legs are long and wide at the same time. Distinctive Features These cats have a short thick tail and large ears with tufts of hair at the ends. By these signs you can immediately and unmistakably distinguish a lynx from other cats.

When looking at a lynx, what immediately catches your eye is its short tail.

The fur of all lynx species is quite thick; long hair forms “whiskers” on the cheeks. The coat color is red or grayish with black or brown spots. Unlike the leopard, the lynx's spots are sparse and evenly distributed over the body. The tip of the tail is always black.

Red lynx (Lynx rufus).

The range of these animals is located in the Northern Hemisphere - lynxes can be found throughout Europe, Asia and North America. In the north, the lynx's distribution zone reaches the Arctic Circle, in the south it borders on the subtropics. All species of lynx are forest dwellers and only the bobcat can be found in the deserts of the southern United States. The common and Canadian lynx prefer to live in coniferous forests; the Spanish lynx inhabits the dry evergreen forests of the Pyrenees mountains. These animals lead a solitary lifestyle. They are silent, unsociable and rarely catch the eye of people. Thanks to its wide paws, the lynx does not get stuck when moving in deep snow. Lynxes lead a sedentary lifestyle, but the common lynx can migrate after massively multiplying hares.

Lynxes are excellent at climbing trees.

Southern species of lynx (Spanish, red) hunt mainly rodents, hares, rabbits and birds. In addition, the common and Canadian lynx often include larger animals in their diet - deer, young moose and wild boar. What helps them kill prey much larger than themselves is not strength, but hunting tactics. Lynxes prefer to watch their prey in ambush or sneaking up, then with a sudden leap they jump onto the victim’s back and strangle. They show great caution and restraint, sitting in ambush for a long time (sometimes for a whole day).

The lynx creeps up to its prey completely silently.

However, sometimes lynxes chase hares. In addition to herbivores, lynxes can also eat small predators - martens, foxes, wild cats and even wolf cubs.

A Spanish lynx (Lynx pardinus) caught a rabbit.

Lynxes breed once a year. The rut occurs in February-March. The males begin to emit loud calling calls. Due to the fact that lynxes live scatteredly, they do not form aggregations even during the breeding season.

A pair of Canadian lynxes.

Pregnancy lasts 2-2.5 months. The female gives birth to 2-3 kittens in a secluded den.

A little lynx peeks out from behind the branches.

The mother carefully hides her shelter and protects the offspring from the attacks of other predators (while the kittens are small, they can be killed by wolves or large martens).

A dark forest thicket, fallen trees block the traveler’s path, the roots of centuries-old trees spread across the ground in a bizarre tangle - eerie and scary. It is precisely such remote places that the lynx loves, a formidable predator of planet earth, ironically, a representative of the cat family (our fluffy, affectionate Bars and Murchiks.

Animal species

In nature, there are four species in the lynx genus:

The common or Eurasian lynx is a representative of the northern countries. In Scandinavia you can meet this cat in the Arctic Circle; Eurasia is its usual habitat; in the recent past it was also a representative of Europe.

At this time, it is almost completely exterminated here. Prefers dark coniferous forests, but is also found in forest-tundra, forest-steppe, and also in mountain forests. According to the observations of researchers of this animal, last years lynx spotted in the Chernobyl zone.

Canadian lynx is found in many areas of the North American taiga, and not only in Canada, as one might think based on the name. The color of this species matches the harsh surrounding landscape where the lynx lives and allows it to hide from its enemies.

The bobcat is often called red because of the rich hue of its soft fur. Her habitat is North America(southern and central parts). In height, she is half the size of an ordinary lynx and weighs no more than 14 kg - for this she received the affectionate nickname “bobcat” from local residents.

Note!

The Spanish (Iberian) lynx has incredible beauty, which is its distinctive feature. Fiery eyes, black voluminous eyebrows, amazing bright spots on the body cannot fail to attract the attention of lovers of these incredible cats.

There is another name for it - European leopard. This species is in the Red Book to save it from complete extermination, to which it has been subjected for many years due to its magnificent fur.

Numerous sites telling about these beauties are filled with many photos of lynx, depicting the animal in wildlife, with cubs, on the hunt, peaceful and aggressive. There is something to see and admire.

Description

Very similar to everyone’s favorite cat, but much larger. True, in its family, this representative is not huge in size. From 75 to 130 cm is the length of an adult male, and the female does not exceed 125 cm in length. The weight of a lynx is within 25, sometimes 30 kg.

The body of a forest cat is short, flat on the sides, and tightly knit. The paws are strong and thick. The round head has elongated ears, the ends of which are decorated with distinctive tassels. If you trim them, the lynx's hearing will be much reduced (and this is a fact).

Note!

The body of the animal is covered with soft and very thick fur. The color depends on the species to which the lynx belongs. The tail is short, as if severed.

There is a myth about the goddess of agriculture, Demeter, who punished the Scythian king, who wanted to appropriate inventions for cultivating the land. She turned him into a lynx, and the royal dagger cut off the animal's tail.

Places of residence

The geography of the trotter population is extensive. It can be found in various areas European countries, Eurasia, on the continent of America. After the barbaric extermination of the lynx, this animal began to be repopulated, providing natural conditions for its reproduction.

At the beginning of the twentieth century wild cats appeared in Kamchatka. Dense mountain forests (coniferous and deciduous) have always been and remain favorite places where lynx live.

In young thickets, the lynx arranges a place to rest. This nocturnal animal often prefers to lie on a thick branch or in some kind of hole.

It’s interesting, but when settling down to rest, a cat never forgets about its safety and makes its way to the rookery with big leaps, thereby covering its tracks. The lynx lives in nature for up to twenty years.

Note!

Lynx diet

The unusually beautiful, graceful, majestic lynx is very much disliked by forest inhabitants. Why? Yes, because she is a predator, and too bloodthirsty. The lynx feeds on meat, and only fresh meat, and never eats carrion.

If a large animal becomes prey, and she could not eat it right away, she does not come to finish eating it. The animal's diet includes birds, small rodents, and hares. He will not deny himself the pleasure of hunting larger animals - sika deer, roe deer and even reindeer.

It enjoys the young meat of the cubs of such four-legged animals as elk, wild boar, and wapiti. You can also treat yourself to fish. If human dwellings are located nearby, he will not disdain animals from the yard.

The daily menu is about 5 kg of meat. And if the lynx is well-fed, it will never hunt for nothing. Its competitors in the field of nutrition are wolverine and fox. And if the first manages (not always) to drive away the breadwinner and feast on the obtained food, then the second is doomed to death. The lynx kills an uninvited guest, however, it will not eat it.

Hunting

With the onset of semi-darkness, the trot changes, vigor appears, and a surge of strength is felt. Under the cover of darkness, it carefully tracks its prey, listening and freezing. Or it will sit on a branch above the path that leads to a watering hole. But from the tree she never attacks the victim.

The predator does not give itself away by any movement. From the tree she never attacks the victim. The early morning hours, when the night has not passed and the day has not come, is the most favorite time when the forest cat enters the hunting path. Only the Canadian hunts during the day.

First, the trophy is tracked, then the lynx silently approaches the object and attacks with lightning speed. At the same time, he makes fairly long jumps.

The lynx does not pursue its prey for long; it chases after it, and after running up to 80 m, it stops the chase. The lynx kills its prey instantly; the sharpness of its teeth and claws is comparable, perhaps, to a blade. You can often see marks of claw sharpening on the trunks. Some peoples use lynx claws as a totem.

Family ties and babies

With the onset of the last month of winter comes mating season in lynxes, and it lasts until the end of March. Males fight selflessly to take possession of the female. Their growls and loud meows can be heard throughout the area. The female goes with the winner.

She carries the cubs for two months. On the eve of childbirth, parents set up a den, a kind of delivery room. It is located either in a hollow tree 15 meters above the ground, or in rock crevices.

Usually two or three lynx cubs are born. In rare cases, up to five babies are born. Newborns are very small (up to 300 g). Two weeks after birth, kittens open their eyes.

Raising the offspring lies entirely with the mother; the father does not take part in this process. At three months, lynx cubs begin to follow their mother, and at five months they begin to receive lessons in independent hunting. One-year-old individuals enter adulthood.

Lynx at home

Despite the fact that the lynx is a representative of the cat family and is very similar to a pet, but larger in size, it is unlikely that it will be possible to raise a cute purr from it. True, some people manage to tame a forest cat.

Peculiarities

The domestic lynx differs from its ancestor in many qualities. The domestic specimen was produced by crossing a small wild animal with an ordinary cat. The only condition for this was the selection of a color similar to the natural color of the forest beauty.

The caracal is considered a domestic lynx. But it also requires careful care, certain conditions and constant care from the owners. A spacious enclosure is needed.

We must not forget that keeping a lynx within the walls of a house is not an easy task, and additional considerable financial costs will be required.

Particular attention should be paid to the diet: meat, fish, bones and no dry food. It is important to systematically comb the animal, since when licking the fur, the lynx can swallow it, choking on it.

Many people are interested in the question: is a lynx dangerous at home? It's up to you to decide: a wild lynx is a predator, an artificially bred one is also a predator, although its natural instincts are hidden quite deeply. And predators are always dangerous.

The lynx is the keeper of secrets and symbolizes truthfulness, impeccability, openness, silence and many other qualities of clairvoyants.

And if you choose the lynx as your totem, beware of deceiving people’s trust, watch your words, choose expressions with caution.

Photo of lynx

The common lynx (Lynx lynx) is an animal belonging to the species of mammals and the genus of lynx, which includes four species. Common lynx belongs to the fairly widespread order Carnivora and the Feline family.

Description and appearance

Today, our planet is inhabited by several species of lynx, which differ somewhat in size, skin color and distribution area. Currently, the lynx is the northernmost species of all the felines..

This is interesting! The image of a lynx has found quite wide use in heraldry, so this symbol is often found on the flags and coats of arms of various cities, including Gomel and Ust-Kubinsk in the Vologda region.

Appearance

A short and dense body is characteristic of all lynxes, regardless of the species. The ears have long and well-defined tufts of hair. The tail is quite short, with a very characteristic, “chopped off” part. Head small sizes, pronounced round shape. Long hair in large quantities located on the sides of the muzzle, and forms very peculiar “whiskers”. The muzzle is shortened, with wide eyes and round pupils. Paws are large in size, with good pubescence in winter.

This is interesting! With the onset of winter, the lower part of the lynx's paws becomes long and quite thick hair, thanks to which the animal can move even through very deep and relatively loose snow, like on skis.

Lynx sizes

The average body length of an adult lynx can vary between 80-130cm. The height of the animal at the withers reaches 65-70cm. As a rule, an adult and well-formed lynx is similar in size to a fairly large, massive dog. The weight of an adult male lynx varies between 18-25 kg, but some males are capable of reaching a weight of 28-30 kg, and females most often weigh no more than 18-20 kg.

Skin color

The coloring of lynx fur today is very variable, and can be represented by many types of colors and shades, which directly depend on the geography of the habitat of the individuals. The color can vary from reddish-brown to fawn-smoky tones, with less or more pronounced spotting on the back and paws, as well as on the sides of the animal.

On the belly of the lynx, the hair is quite long and soft, silky, but not thick, and almost always pure white with sparse, relatively noticeable specks. IN southern regions individuals have a more pronounced red coloration, and also have relatively short and dense hair. The predatory animal sheds in spring and autumn.

Lifespan

The average life expectancy of a common lynx in natural conditions is about fifteen or seventeen years old. In Europe and in the Siberian taiga, the main enemies that significantly reduce the lynx population are wolves.

In captivity, including zoos and nurseries, such predatory individuals can live for a quarter of a century or a little more.

Lifestyle of the common lynx

Along with most other species of predatory animals, the common lynx prefers to lead a nocturnal or so-called twilight lifestyle. This is a solitary predator, but the female and her cubs live together for several months.

This is interesting! Lynxes go out in search of their prey after it begins to get dark. The tassels located on the ears of the predator serve as a kind of device that makes it easier to detect prey.

In addition to hunting with the so-called stealth, lynxes are able to wait for their prey in ambush. This predatory animal often lies in wait for its prey near hare trails, as well as near the main watering hole for ungulates.

Where does the lynx live, its range

Lynxes prefer to inhabit dense dark coniferous forests and taiga, but sometimes they can enter forest-steppe or forest-tundra. The animal can easily climb not only trees, but also rocks, and can also swim very well.

Thanks to its abundant fur, the lynx has perfectly adapted to life in the snow in the Arctic Circle. Spots on the coat make the lynx almost invisible in daytime hours among the glare of the sun that falls on the ground, and also camouflages the animal very well among trees and bushes.

Food and prey

Common lynxes hunt, in most cases, hares. If possible, the animal is capable of attacking medium-sized ungulates, including roe deer, musk deer and wapiti, as well as young wild boars. Lynxes often catch squirrels and martens, and also eat hazel grouse, wood grouse and black grouse.

In search of food, lynxes are able to walk about thirty kilometers within a day, and in very hungry years, the predator often approaches a person’s home, where domestic or stray cats and dogs, and small livestock become its prey. Uneaten prey is buried in the snow or ground.

This is interesting! This one is well known unusual fact, like the unmotivated aggression of lynxes towards foxes. The predator tries to kill the fox at the first opportunity, but the lynx never eats this meat.

Reproduction and offspring

The common lynx is a predator leading a solitary lifestyle. The lynx rut begins in March. During this period, predators emit very characteristic loud screams, and also purr or meow loudly. At the rutting stage, each female is accompanied by several males, fiercely fighting with each other. Educated married couples perform a kind of greeting ritual, and affection is expressed by licking each other's fur.

This is interesting! The female's gestation period varies between 64-70 days. One litter usually consists of a pair of kittens, but sometimes their number can reach five. The born lynx cubs are blind and deaf, so the female initially hides them in a den, which is located under the roots of fallen trees, in deep holes or earthen caves. Also, some females sometimes make a den in low-lying hollows or in large rocky crevices.

The average weight of a newborn kitten, as a rule, does not exceed 250-300 grams. The baby lynx's eyes open only on the twelfth day. Until about a month, the female feeds her cubs exclusively with milk, after which gradual feeding of solid protein foods begins. The upbringing of born kittens is carried out by both parents, who not only protect their offspring, but also teach them how to get food for themselves and hide from enemies. Sexual maturity in females occurs closer to two years, and in males several months later.