The European lynx (Lynx lynx) is a medium-sized cat native to north European and Siberian forests, Central Asia and East Asia. Populations of Eurasian lynx have been reduced or extirpated from western- and central Europe, where it is now being reintroduced.
It is also known as the Eurasian lynx, common lynx, the northern lynx, and the Siberian or Russian lynx.
The Eurasian lynx is the largest lynx species, ranging in length from 80 to 130 cm and standing about 60 to 75 cm at the shoulder. The tail is 11 to 24.5 cm. Males usually weigh from 18 to 30 kg and females weigh 8 to 21 kg. Male lynxes from Siberia, where the species reaches the largest body size, can weigh up to 38 kg.
During the summer, the Eurasian lynx has a relatively short, reddish or brown coat. In winter, however, this is replaced by a much thicker coat of silky fur that varies from silver-grey to greyish-brown. The underparts of the animal, including the neck and chin, are white at all times of the year. It has powerful, relatively long legs, with large webbed and furred paws that act like snowshoes. It also possesses a short "bobbed" tail with an all-black tip, black tufts of hair on its ears, and a long grey-and-white ruff.
Lynx preys largely on small to fairly large sized mammals and birds.
The Eurasian lynx inhabits rugged forested country providing plenty of hideouts and stalking opportunities. Depending on the locality, this may include forest-steppe, boreal forest, and montane forest. In the more mountainous parts of their range, Eurasian lynx will descend into the lowlands in winter, following their prey, and avoiding the deepest snows.
This picture was taken in Zoo Duisburg, Germany.
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All rights reserved. Copyright © Martien Uiterweerd (Foto Martien). All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission.
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