The
debate continues whether or not the Canadian Lynx is in fact a separate
species from the Eurasian (a.k.a. Siberian or Iberian) Lynx, 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.
Zoological name: Lynx canadensis
Species: The Newfoundland animals are sometimes considered to be a
separate subspecies, F. (L.) c. subsolanus. Major populations of Canadian
lynx are found throughout Canada, in western Montana and nearby parts of
Idaho and Washington. There are small populations in New England and Utah
and possibly in Oregon, Wyoming and Colorado as well.
Presence on the planet: Major populations of Canadian lynx are found
throughout Canada, in western Montana and nearby parts of Idaho and
Washington. There are small populations in New England and Utah and possibly
in Oregon, Wyoming and Colorado as well.
Physical description: Canada lynx are easily recognizable cats with
their black ear tufts, flared facial ruff, and very short tail. They can
only be confused with the closely related bobcat Lynx rufus in the southern
part of their range, however, a close look reveals a number of differences.
The lynx has longer legs and broader footpads for walking in deep snow.
Their ear tufts are longer, and the facial ruff is more developed. Their
tail has a black tip, while the bobcat’s is more striped and white
underneath. These two cat species seem to have divided the continent up
between them, with the lynx in the northern forests and the bobcat being
limited by snow depth to southern Canada, and through to Central Mexico.
Diet: Canada lynx feed almost exclusively on snowshoe hares and have
adapted to the cyclic availability of their prey. Snowshoe hare numbers peak
every 10 years. As they then start to decline, so do lynx numbers after a
two year lag. As the hare population decreases, fewer lynx reproduce and
litter size decreases.
When snowshoe hares are scarce, Canada lynx will also feed on small to
medium-sized mammals and birds. They hunt by stalking or ambushing prey.
Reproduction & Offspring: After a gestation of approximately
63-70 days, females produce a litter of 1-8 kittens, with the average
varying depending on the abundance of prey. They weigh 7-7.5 ounces at birth
and will open their eyes at around 10-17 day, and begin to walk between
24-30 days. They are weaned between 3-5 months of age, and reach sexual
maturity around 23 months. The number of offspring is directly related to
the abundance of prey, as is the age of sexual maturity. When prey is very
abundant, females will breed as early as 10 months.
Conservation status: Trapping continues to be one of the greatest
threats for the Lynx, and as Lynx are easily trapped, when done during times
of low numbers it makes recovery of the population extremely difficult. As
is with every other feline population, these too face habitat loss due to
destruction by humans. However bleak this sounds, the outlook for the
Canadian Lynx is better and more promising than it is for many of the other
feline species.
Status: CITES: Appendix II. IUCN: Not listed. Threatened as of 2000.
Life span: 15 - 21 years
The word "Lynx"
The word lynx comes from the Greek word ‘to shine’. This may
refer to the reflective cells that assist cats to see at night by re-using
light that has already passed through the eye chamber by reflecting it back
a second time. They are mainly terrestrial and nocturnal, although they may
also hunt during the day if prey is scarce. Lynx are thought to hunt mainly
by sight and hearing, relying on smell to a lesser extent. They usually
stalk their prey to within a few bounds before pouncing, but they are also
known to wait in ambush for hours. Adult females and kittens have been
observed to hunt co-operatively. Their main prey in all areas of their range
is the snowshoe hare.
