Eurasian lynx
Where is the Eurasian lynx native to?
What is the diet of the Eurasian lynx?
What conservation efforts have been made for the Eurasian lynx?
Eurasian lynx, (Lynx lynx), medium-sized, long-legged, short-tailed wild cat native to the boreal and deciduous forests, mountains, and grasslands of Europe and Asia. Lynx lynx is the largest member of the genus Lynx and Europe’s third largest predator, surpassed only by the brown bear and gray wolf. The species as a whole is not considered threatened, and conservation efforts are helping regional populations rebound.
Distribution and habitat
The boreal distribution of the Eurasian lynx forms a wide contiguous strip that stretches from Scandinavia to Kamchatka, in Russia’s Far East. The geographic range of the southern populations has decreased, and the species is locally extinct in many places in western Europe. Several populations occur in isolated pockets in central Europe, the Caspian Sea region, Central Asia, and the Plateau of Tibet. Within its range, the species occurs from sea level to an elevation of 5,500 meters (18,045 feet), occupying a variety of climatic zones. Individuals of this species prefer forested areas with ample hunting cover and robust populations of hoofed mammalian prey, such as deer. However, populations in Central Asia are usually found in sparsely wooded areas, grasslands (steppes), and semideserts.
On the basis of genetic differences, six subspecies of the Eurasian lynx have been proposed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Cat Specialist Group:
- Northern lynx (L. l. lynx) in northern Europe and western Siberia
- Carpathian lynx (L. l. carpathicus) in the Carpathian Mountains, eastern and central Europe
- Balkan lynx (L. l. balcanicus) in the Balkans
- Turkestan lynx (L. l. isabellinus) in Central Asia and the Himalayas
- Siberian lynx (L. l. wrangeli) in Siberia, from east of the Yenisey River in central Russia to China
Physical features
The Eurasian lynx is the tallest among the four lynx species. It stands 60–71 cm (24–28 inches) tall at the withers. A full-grown adult can weigh between 18 and 36 kg (about 40–80 pounds) and measures 70–130 cm (28–51 inches) long from muzzle to rump. Males are larger (20–25 percent) and heavier (25–30 percent) than females. Individuals in the northern and eastern parts of the species’ range tend to be larger than their southern and western counterparts. The tail is short, measuring 19–23 cm (7.5–9 inches), and black-tipped. Like other lynx species, the Eurasian lynx has a distinct facial ruff, a tuft of black hair on the tip of each ear, and broad furry paws suitable for traveling on snow.
This lynx has a soft, thick furry coat that shows regional and seasonal variations in color. The coat tends to be yellowish, grayish, or yellowish brown with whitish underparts, and it darkens during summer. If it is patterned, it may have simple dark spots or rosettes. The Turkestan lynx is characterized by a pale coat without noticeable markings. In general, in the northern parts of its range, the Eurasian lynx has a grayer coat and fewer spots.
The name lynx comes via Latin from Greek λύγξ (lynx), which may stem from the Proto-Indo-European root *leuk- (“to kindle, shine, or see”). It may refer to the cat’s purportedly sharp eyesight—possibly associated with the byname Λυγχεύς (Lynceus [“Lynx-Eye”]) for the Argonauts’ legendary keen-eyed helmsman. Or it may refer to the cat’s predominantly light-colored coat.
Behavior and ecology
Reproduction and development
The mating season of the Eurasian lynx lasts from late winter to early spring. A female gives birth to a litter of one to four kittens after a gestation of 68–73 days. The kittens are born in a secluded den inside a hollow log or a rock crevice. They weigh about 250–430 grams (0.55–0.95 pounds) at birth and start walking when they are 24–30 days old. At the age of about 5 months, they are weaned. Kittens stay with their mother for 10 months, until the next mating season arrives. Females become sexually mature at 21–24 months of age and can reproduce until 14 years old, whereas males become sexually mature at about 30 months of age and can reproduce until 16 years old. Both sexes are territorial: females maintain nonoverlapping territories, but the territory of a male may include the territories of several females. The Eurasian lynx has been known to live until age 17 in the wild and age 24 in captivity.
Diet
The Eurasian lynx specializes in hunting ungulates (hoofed mammals). Depending on the availability of game within its range, it frequently preys on small- to medium-sized deer species, such as roe deer (Capreolus species), chamois (Rupicapra species), and musk deer (Moschus moschiferus). Roe deer make up 70 to 100 percent of the Eurasian lynx’s diet in many areas in Europe where the cat has been reintroduced. The cat will also prey on larger ungulates, such as reindeer and red deer, particularly if they are young or otherwise vulnerable. Where ungulate prey is absent or scarce, the cat will eat hares, wild boars, marmots, foxes, rodents, and birds and their eggs, as well as domestic sheep and goats. In the east of its range the Eurasian lynx is known to feed on blue sheep, pikas, Tibetan antelopes, Tibetan gazelles, and Tibetan foxes. The adult cat needs 1–2 kg (2.2–4.4 pounds) of meat every day. It ambushes its prey and hides uneaten parts of the carcass, to which it will return periodically to eat.
Ecological and economic value
Predation by the Eurasian lynx keeps the number of ungulates in its range under control, which gives forest habitats a chance to recover from damage caused by overgrazing. This in turn promotes biodiversity, maintains ecological balance, and ensures ecosystem health and resilience.
An indirect benefit of such ecosystem restoration is the promotion of ecotourism and the creation of related jobs. Surveys have shown that the elusive lynx continues to be of interest to tourists, photographers, and wildlife enthusiasts. More directly, humans have benefited economically from the trade in Eurasian lynx fur for centuries. Sweden was a noted exporter of high-quality lynx fur in the 16th century. Russia and China emerged as major players in such trade in the 20th century. Commercial fur trading has been regulated in the 21st century, and many countries in the cat’s range have completely banned the harvesting of its fur.
Conservation status
The Eurasian lynx had become locally extinct across much of Europe, particularly western Europe, by the early 1900s. Between the 1930s and the 1950s about 700 animals were present across the entire continent. Habitat loss, killing by farmers in retaliation for predation of their livestock, and both legal and illegal harvesting for fur were the major reasons behind this population decline. Pressure from hunting continued into the late 20th century; indeed, thousands of Eurasian lynx furs and skins were systematically harvested and exported by Russia and China during the 1970s and ’80s. Strict fur export regulations have since curbed this threat significantly. Reintroduction programs implemented in Europe between the 1970s and the 2000s helped restore local populations in many countries, and as of 2023 the Eurasian lynx population in continental Europe (excluding Russia and Belarus) was an estimated 9,400. Not all populations in Europe are equally robust, however. Some have fewer than 50 individuals, in which case the cat is considered to be critically endangered. There were an estimated 10,000 Eurasian lynxes in Mongolia in 2003, 27,000 in China in 2009, and 22,510 in Russia in 2013. Data on lynx populations in most Asian countries are sparse because of inadequate monitoring.
- Related Topics:
- lynx
Species of Least Concern
The main threats facing the Eurasian lynx continue to be poaching, habitat loss, and prey depletion, although the nature and intensity of the threats vary regionally. Accidental trapping and collisions with vehicles also kill these cats each year. Some of the reintroduced populations in Europe are at risk of reduced genetic diversity and inbreeding depression because of their small population size and isolated occurrence. Hunting of the Eurasian lynx continues to be legal in some countries—including Norway, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, and Iraq—either for its pelt or for sport. Since 2014 the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has considered the species to be of least concern overall, because of its wide distribution and stable population trends across most of its range in Asia and northern Europe. Isolated populations in Europe continue to be at risk, however; indeed, the Balkan lynx in particular is considered critically endangered. The Eurasian lynx is included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix II, which lists species that might suffer a serious population decline if trade in them is not restricted.