Larger Eurasian cousin to Canada Lynx — among the largest wild cats in Europe. Successful reintroductions across multiple European countries; consideration for North America has been debated.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The Eurasian lynx is one of the four extant species within the medium-sized wild cat genus Lynx. It is widely distributed from Northern, Central and Eastern Europe to Central Asia and Siberia, the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas. It inhabits temperate and boreal forests up to an elevation of 5,500 m (18,000 ft). Despite its wide distribution, it is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching and depletion of prey.
Source: Wikipedia — Eurasian lynx Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Medium-large lynx with prominent black ear tufts; pale gray-brown coat with darker spots; short tail with black tip.
Similar species. Canada Lynx (smaller; different range). Bobcat (no ear tufts; smaller).
Voice. Cat-like meows; growls.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Roe deer, hare, fox; occasionally larger prey.
Behavior. Eurasian lynx — included for context; not native to North America. Closely related to and may interbreed with Canada Lynx in some research scenarios.
§ Range
Eurasia (educational reference)
§ Habitat
Boreal forests of Eurasia
§ Threats
In Europe: habitat loss, persecution. In Eurasia: conflict with reindeer herders.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the eurasian lynx is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support European lynx recovery. Donate to Carpathian Mountain conservation.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Eurasian lynx
- www.iucnredlist.org — authoritative profile of Lynx lynx
- IUCN Red List · taxon 12519
- iNaturalist · taxon 41937
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Lynx lynx
§ Sources cited
- IUCN Cat Specialist Group
- American Society of Mammalogists
- IUCN Red List 2018
