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Eurasian Lynx Frequently Asked Questions A lynx. Note the spotted almost stripped coat, white belly and short tail. Courtesy Robert Potts © California Academy of Sciences: CalPhotos. What is a Eurasian lynx? What is Lynx lynx? How many lynx species are there and where? How many individual lynx are there? How big are lynx? What kind of place do lynx live in? How are lynx socially organised? Do lynx drift aimlessly? How big is a lynx territory? How far do lynx travel? When are lynx active? When do lynx reproduce? How many kittens are born? How do lynx kittens develop? When are lynx sexually mature? What and how much do lynx eat? How do lynx hunt? How long do lynx live? What kills lynx? What is the economic importance of lynx? What is the conservation status of lynx? What conservation measures must be taken for lynx? Old wives tales? What is a Eurasian lynx? The lynx is a cat, one of the 36 or so species of cat. Lynx dress in various shades of soft buff pelage, darkly spotted, with white belly and distinctive ruff on neck and chin. They sport large pointed ears topped by a long tuft of fur and have a short black-tipped tail. Top of page What is Lynx lynx? It is the unique scientific name for the Eurasian lynx, uniquely identifying it from other lynx and all other species. This binomial naming system for species is customarily begun with a capital letter for the first name and both are italicised or underlined, hence Lynx lynx or Lynx lynx. The name lynx, it has been suggested, is derived from a Greek or earlier word meaning to shine, a reference to the eyeshine at night from the cat's large eyes. Top of page How many lynx species are there and where? There are four lynx species. Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx): Siberia & Central Asia to Europe. Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus): Iberia. Canadian lynx (Lynx canadensis): Canada, Alaska, Rocky Mountains. Bobcat, Lynx rufus: Canada to Mexico. Top of page How many individual lynx are there? In the pre-breeding season (ie excluding kittens), roughly Eurasian lynx: <50,000 (of which about 3,000 in Europe). Iberian lynx: <1,500. Canadian lynx: ? Bobcat: said to be a million! Top of page How big are lynx? By body size the Eurasian lynx is the largest of the four lynx species (three/four times heavier than a domestic cat); in Europe it is the biggest cat and the forth biggest predator (after polar bear, brown bear and wolf). Adult lynx: Shoulder height:  around 70 cm (2.5 ft). Body length:  80 to 130 cm (2.5 to 4.5 ft). Tail length:  10 to 35 cm (4 to 14 ins). Weight:  12 to 35 kg (25 to 85 lbs). Top of page What kind of place do lynx live in? Most live in forest and some live in treeless areas, especially in central Asia. Top of page How are lynx socially organised? Lynx tend to live solitarily. A male and female will consort and hunt together for a couple of days in the mating season. Young lynx live with their mother until about ten months old and then disperse. Top of page Do lynx drift aimlessly? After leaving their mother, young lynx look for an area to live in. If they find a suitable vacant area they claim it as their territory. They scent mark everywhere with their urine, faeces and secretion glands to warn off and repel other lynx. Top of page How big is a lynx territory? Size ranges from about 25 to 2,000 sq km according to habitat quality and prey availability. A male's territory typically encompasses a couple of female territories (to monopolise the females for mating). Top of page How far do lynx travel? Individuals have been tracked up to 45 km in a day. They tend to stay near a fresh kill for several days. Top of page When are lynx active? They tend to rest during the day and are active mainly at dusk and night-time. Top of page When do lynx reproduce? During February to April, gestation lasts about 10 weeks and they usually birth in May-June. Top of page How many kittens are born? Often two or three, sometimes one or up to five. Top of page How do lynx kittens develop? They are born in shelter, eg a cave, hollow tree or log. They weigh less than a tin of soup - about 300 g (11 ozs) and rely entirely on their mother for warmth, food and protection. After two weeks they begin to see and hear and keep themselves warm. Their mother leaves them for short hunting trips. She suckles them for three to four months. Six weeks from birth the kittens can follow her on short trips. Top of page When are lynx sexually mature? Females can bear young when two years old and males can mate when three. If they survive long enough, females can reproduce up to about 14 years old and males up to about 16 years old in the wild. Top of page What and how much do lynx eat? Rabbits, hares and small ungulates (eg roe deer, musk deer, chamois). Less commonly larger ungulates (eg wild boar, reindeer, red deer, elk). Rodents and birds can be important. Livestock depredation (goats, sheep, poultry) happens. An adult lynx eats on average one to two kg (2 to 4.5 lbs) of meat a day. Top of page How do lynx hunt? Lynx depend on hearing and sight when hunting. They can run a short distance and depend on stalking and ambushing. They creep low to the ground and hide among vegetation and rocks. Hunting skills are improved with leaning and practice. Top of page How long do lynx live? At least half the young die before reaching adulthood. Survivors can reach 17 years of age but most adults live around four or five years. Lynx in captivity might live up to 25 years. Top of page What kills lynx? Their principle enemy is man, directly (hunters) or indirectly (motorists) killing them and their prey. They are rarely killed by predators (eg wolverines, wolves, tigers) and large prey (eg wounded by horns). Lethal diseases include rabies, sarcoptic mange and parvovirus. Top of page What is the economic importance of lynx? For centuries lynx fur has been sought after to wear. Lynx help control populations of small animals, like mice, voles and rabbits, that afflict agriculture. Lynx may feed on domestic livestock where their natural prey are sparse. Top of page What is the conservation status of lynx? CITES lists the Eurasian lynx on Appendix II, ie the lynx is potentially endangered of dying out. Different subspecies of lynx have their own particular conservation status, if any, in countries where they live. CITES is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, an international body which attempts to regulate trade in endangered populations so that species are conserved. The Red Data Book, compiled by the World Conservation Union (also called IUCN), lists the European lynx as Near Threatened - because of degradation of their habitat and prey populations. The next progressively worse categories are Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, and finally Extinct. Placement in the Near Threatened category means the lynx is likely to qualify for one of these other categories in the near future. Top of page What conservation measures must be taken for lynx? Regulate hunters and motorists, increase prey base, allow to recolonise or where necessary reintroduce. Public education is vital. Top of page Old wives tales? 'The fewer lynx the more wolves there are!' False. No scientific evidence suggests this. 'Lynx attack humans!' False. They might rarely attack people, but only in exceptional circumstances, eg if cornered and provoked. However, some people might be alarmed by the lynx habit (like wolves) of sometimes following and watching humans out of curiosity. Top of page Links ELOIS: Eurasian Lynx Online Information System for Europe. Page revised 11.05