Where lynxes live, in what zone. 

Lynx: what they eat, where they live














In the northern hemisphere of our planet there are quite significant areas where lynxes live. These predatory animals from the cat family can be found not only in forested areas, in subtropical forests, but even in the tundra.

Cricket

External Description

The lynx does indeed resemble a very large cat, differing only in its short tail and tassels on the tips of its ears. Its weight usually does not exceed 25 kg, and its body length can be from 75 to 130 cm.

The body is dense with a small round head. The muzzle is framed by an elongated, stiff coat similar to sideburns. The fur is very dense, especially in winter, when the undercoat appears. Most often there are animals with a reddish-gray color and dark spots, chaotically located throughout the body. But the color of the coat depends on the species and on where the lynx lives, in what zone, so it can be of a different shade.

The limbs in their structure are somewhat different from those of cats. The rear paws of the lynx are longer than the front ones and have only 4 toes. In winter, the pads are covered with thick wool, which allows the animal to move easily in the snow without falling through drifts. Paws seem too wide for such a small animal, but it is this structure helps the predator to successfully hunt, extracting food.

Beautiful tassels on the ears act as an antenna, thanks to which the lynx can perfectly hear the quietest sounds. This animal is excellent at jumping (up to 4 meters in length), climbing trees and very fast running. Like all representatives of the cat family, it is distinguished by its strength and extraordinary agility.

Varieties

The genus of lynxes has several species: Pyrenean, Canadian, red, Eurasian common. The smallest is the lynx, which lives in North America. Its height is no more than 35 cm at the withers. The largest representative of this genus is the Eurasian lynx, which inhabits almost the entire territory of Russia, including the Arctic Circle, and can be found in completely impassable areas of Siberia.

Deep forests, thickets of young trees - these are the places where lynxes inhabit most often. The Canadian lynx, which is the closest relative of the Eurasian lynx, is considerably inferior in size. This North American cat inhabits almost the entire territory of Canada and the northern American states, preferring to settle in coniferous forests with dense undergrowth.

A special species is the bright-spotted Pyrenean lynx. It is on the verge of extinction. Only in Portugal and southern Spain are still occasionally found these animals. Deforestation has led to the fact that the area where lynxes live is becoming smaller and smaller. In addition, because of the beautiful fur of bright leopard color hunters often shoot these animals.

Habitats

The lynx is found in almost all European countries, as well as in Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Greece, China, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. On the American continent, the largest numbers of these predators are found in the southeastern United States, Canada and Mexico.

In Russia, the largest lynx population is found in taiga regions and mixed forests. Comparatively recently, the animals have settled in Kamchatka. Our country is huge, so the areas where lynx live in Russia can be very far apart. As a result, animals of the same species can be very different not only in size, but also in coloration and degree of spotting.

The favorite place for the lynx is the thickets of young trees - there it is most convenient to arrange a den. Basically, this predator chooses to live in any forests (coniferous, mixed, mountainous), where bear and elk live. Lynx can be found in forest tundra, where there are many bushes, other low vegetation, and even above the Arctic Circle.

Cricket

What a lynx eats

It is a predator, accordingly, it prefers fresh meat, which requires at least 2-3 kg per day. The object of hunting is a variety of animals - from vole mice to roe deer and reindeer. Food depends on the habitat. But the main prey of the lynx is usually the hare.

It is his number in the region where lynxes live, and depends on their well-being. One captured hare is enough for the predator for 4 days. As a rule, it hunts them mainly in winter, when the choice of food is small. In the taiga, the prey of this dexterous animal are often wild boars.

The lynx is able to deftly and stealthily approach the victim and kill it with a single blow of its powerful paw. In addition, the huge fangs of the predator are similar to the fangs of a leopard or leopard. And among birds there are many victims who fall into these fangs. 

The lynx is a solitary animal. It rarely makes any sounds during its life. The sharp cat-like cry of the lynx can be heard only during the rutting season, which usually occurs in February. This animal is extremely cautious. The lynx spends the whole day in its den, which is located in a deep thicket. Late in the evening it goes out to hunt. It leads a sedentary way of life and only when food resources in the area of its habitat run out, it moves to another territory. For a day can travel a distance of up to 30 km.

You can find a lot of information about the lynx - what it eats, where it lives, but its unusual habits also deserve attention. For example, this animal eats only fresh meat, disdaining carrion. It never returns to the remains of its prey, although it buries them in the ground. And it does it very carelessly, and foxes and wolverines following its tracks often use the remains of the feast. Each individual has its own territory for hunting.

The lynx is characterized by bloodthirstiness. She hunts almost always and often kills animals much more than she can eat. To foxes, the lynx has a special dislike, which is caused by food competition. But having killed a fox, it will never eat it. Hunting for the lynx usually ends in good luck. Waiting for its prey in a tree, it rushes at it like lightning. Thanks to its developed hind limbs, the lynx can even catch birds flying up from the ground. When there is not enough food in the forest, the predator can visit the nearest villages and farms. There it is not difficult for him to snatch a chicken or even a lamb.

Cricket
Cricket

Breeding

During the mating season, the female is accompanied by several males who are in constant conflict with each other. Pregnancy lasts about 2 months. About 5 hours before delivery, the lynx begins to make a den. Usually makes it at a height - in the hollows of trees or in the crevices of rocks.

Cubs are born in late April - early May blind, weighing up to 300 grams and open their eyes only in two weeks. The mother feeds them with her milk for a month, then starts bringing mice and hares to the cubs. At the age of 3 months the cubs already follow their mother, and 2 months later they begin to acquire their first hunting skills.

When they turn a year old, the mother drives the lynxes away from herself, they begin their independent life. At the age of one and a half, females become sexually mature, males mature a year later. The life expectancy of the lynx is on average 15-20 years.

Despite the fact that there are not many places on the planet where the lynx does not live in the wild, the population of this animal is decreasing. The reason is the destruction of natural habitats and over-hunting of these beautiful animals. In some European countries they are already almost exterminated.

© Copyright 2023. All Rights Reserved