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Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis)

Canada Lynx | Lynx canadensis photo
Canada Lynx
Photograph by US Fish and Wildlife Service. License: Public Domain.


Description

The Canada Lynx is yellowish-brown, and sometimes has dark brown spots. The fur on the head and back is often a grizzled with gray. The belly is pale buff. The tail is fairly short with a dark tip and often has dark rings. The fur is long and thick. The ears are triangle shaped with tufts of black hair at the tips. The paws are large and furry.

Size

Head and body length: 67cm - 107cm. Tail length: 5cm - 13cm. Weight : 5kg - 17kg. Males are larger than females.

Habitat

forests, rocky areas with cover, tundra

Food

The Canadian lynx is a carnivore and eats rodents, birds and fish. In winter it may feed on deer and other larger mammals. Snowshoe Hares form an important part of its diet.

Breeding

Two or three young are born after gestation of 8 -10 weeks. Litter can be up to 5. Newborn kittens weigh about 200g and start eating meat after about one month. They are fully weaned after about 5 months.

Range

Canada, USA (C Utah and SW Colorado, NE Nebraska, S Indiana, and West Virginia).

Classification
Class:Mammalia
Order:Carnivora
Family:Felidae
Genus:Lynx
Species:canadensis
Relatives in same Genus
  Eurasian Lynx (L. lynx)
  Iberian Lynx (L. pardinus)
  Bobcat (L. rufus)

Bobcat | Lynx rufus photo
Lynx family near Dauphin, Manitoba
Photograph by Matthew Hewett. License: Public Domain.
Bobcat | Lynx rufus photo
Canada Lynx
Photograph by Art G. Some rights reserved.