General Information About the Siberian Lynx
We have not done the research here. The information on the web page has been gathered from around the internet. The links to the pages we gathered information from is at the bottom of this page. Most however is from (Big Cat Rescue).
Misc.: The debate continues whether or not the Siberian Lynx is in fact a separate species from the Canadian and Iberian Lynxes, or merely a sub-specie. Experts are evenly divided on this subject, but for now, it remains a separate species based on its marked adaptive differences for prey capture. The name Lynx comes from the Greek word "to shine," and may be in reference to the reflective ability of the cat’s eyes. In Scandinavia, lynx with spots are called "cat lynx" and unspotted ones are called "wolf lynx."
Habitat: These Lynx are found to inhabit taiga, alpine tundra and some rocky, barren areas above the mountain tree lines.
Distribution: Asia, Europe, and former USSR.
In the wild, Eurasian Lynx have lived up to 17 years, and in captivity, up to 24.
Social System and Communication: Solitary, except for females with offspring, or siblings who have just separated from their mothers who may travel and hunt together for several months before separating.
Hunting and Diet: The primary diet for this Lynx is small ungulates such as roe deer, chamois, and musk deer, and in other parts pikas, large rodents and hares.
Principal Threats: The largest threat facing this Lynx is the destruction of its prey base, loss of habitat and the increasing urbanization of western Europe. There is still some hunting of the Lynx for the pelt trade.
How rare is this cat ? The International Species Information Service lists 224 worldwide, with 19 being in the U.S. There are 8 living at Big Cat Rescue.
Size and Appearance: The Eurasian Lynx is the largest of the Lynxes, with males weighing as much as 48 pounds. The fur is typically grayish, with tints varying from yellowish to rusty. They have 3 main patterns: predominately spotted, predominantly striped, and unpatterned. The coats are more heavily spotted in the summer phase, and almost barely visible in the winter phase. They have a flared facial ruff, long prominent black ear tufts, and long hind legs with a short black tipped tail. Their large, wide-spreading feet are covered in fur, which act like snowshoes, and are effective in supporting the cat’s weight on the snow. They are often confused with their smaller feline cousins the Bobcat, but can be easily distinguished by their tail tips. The tail of the Lynx looks as though it was dipped in an inkwell being black all the way around, whereas the Bobcat’s tail appears to have been painted black on top and white on the bottom.
The vast majority of this information came the Big Cat Rescue website. Finding good information on the Siberian Lynx is not an easy task. Information for the Siberian Lynx is not plentiful on the internet, at least not that I found. So MUCH thanks to Big Cat Rescue for having the information on their website!!
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