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The 'Canadian Lynx' (''Lynx canadensis'') is a North American mammal of the cat family, Felidae. It is a close relative of the Eurasian Lynx (''Lynx lynx''). Some authorities regard both as conspecific. However, in some characteristics the Canadian Lynx is more similar to the Bobcat (''Lynx rufus'') than to the Eurasian Lynx. With the recognized subspecies, it ranges across Canada and into Alaska as well as some parts of the northern United States.
With a dense silvery-brown coat, ruffed face and tufted ears, the Canadian Lynx resembles the other species of the mid-sized ''Lynx'' genus. It is larger than the Bobcat, with whom it shares parts of its range, and over twice the size of the domestic cat.

Contents

Taxonomy

Subspecies

Physical characteristics

Behavior

Hunting and diet

Reproduction and life cycle

Distribution and habitat

Cycle of lynx abundance

Conservation

References

External links

Taxonomy

There had been debate over whether to classify this species as ''Lynx canadensis'' or ''Felis canadensis'', part of a wider issue regarding whether the four species of ''Lynx'' should be given their own genus, or be placed as a subgenus of ''Felis''. American Marten, Fisher, Lynx, and Wolverine: Survey Methods for Their Detection, Zielinski, William J; Kuceradate, Thomas E, , , DIANE Publishing, , ISBN 0788136283 Species Assessment for Canada Lynx (Lynx Canadensis) in Wyoming Carron Meaney; Gary P. Beauvais The ''Lynx'' genus is now accepted, and the Bobcat listed as ''Lynx rufus'' in taxonomic sources.
Johnson ''et al.'' report that ''Lynx'' shared a clade with the ''Puma'', leopard cat (''Prionailurus''), and domestic cat (''Felis'') lineages, dated to 7.15 Ma; ''Lynx'' diverged first, approximately 3.24 Ma. (There are significant confidence intervals for both figures.) The Late Miocene radiation of modern Felidae: A genetic assessment., Johnson, W.E., Eizirik, E., Pecon-Slattery, J., Murphy, W.J., Antunes, A., Teeling, E. & O'Brien, S.J., , , Science, 2006

Subspecies

Three subspecies of the Canadian Lynx are currently recognized:

★ ''L. canadensis canadensis''

★ ''L. canadensis mollipilosus''

★ ''L. canadensis subsolanus'': The 'Newfoundland Lynx' is a subspecies of the Canadian Lynx. It is larger than the mainland subspecies. This animal is known to have killed Caribou calves when Snowshoe Hares were not available.

Physical characteristics

The appearance of the Canadian Lynx is similar to that of the Eurasian Lynx: the dense fur is silvery brown and may bear blackish markings. The Canadian is rather smaller than its Eurasian cousin, at an average size of 11 kg (24 lbs), 90 cm (36 in) in length and a shoulder height of 60 cm (24 in). Males are larger than females. In summer, its coat takes on a more reddish brown colour. This lynx has a furry ruff which resembles a double-pointed beard, a short tail with a black tip and long furry tufts on its ears. Its long legs with broad furred feet aid the Canadian Lynx in traveling through deep snow.

Behavior

The Canadian Lynx is a solitary and secretive animal, usually active at night, and requires a large territory. It breeds in spring and one to five kittens are born. The survival of the young depends heavily on the availability of prey species.

Hunting and diet

The Canadian Lynx hunts for hares, rodents and birds, sometimes killing larger animals such as deer. It relies mainly on hearing and sight to locate prey. In some areas the Snowshoe Hare is virtually the only prey of the Canadian Lynx. The size of the Canadian Lynx population tends to follow the approximately 10 year long rise and decline of Snowshoe Hare numbers.

Reproduction and life cycle

Female Canadian Lynx use maternal dens from birth of their young until the they are weaned and able to forage for food themselves. Typically inside thickets of shrubs or trees or woody debris, dens are generally situated mid-slope and face south or southwest.^[1]

Distribution and habitat

This cat is found in northern forests across almost all of Canada and Alaska. In addition there are large populations of this lynx in Montana, Idaho and Washington. The Canadian Lynx is rare in Utah, Minnesota, and New England; reintroduction efforts in Colorado have been ongoing since 1999, with the first wild-born kittens confirmed in 2003, with many successful kindles thereafter. It is considered to be threatened in the contiguous United States.

Cycle of lynx abundance

In the northern parts of Canada, its population can be estimated from the records kept from the number caught each year for its fur. Records have been kept by the Hudson's Bay Company and Canadian government since the 1730s.^[2] A graph of its abundance is characterized by huge rises and falls with the peaks occurring at a level typically ten times higher than the troughs and about 5 years after them, and the process then reversing itself.
This lynx is a specialist predator, eating Snowshoe Hare almost exclusively when they are available. The population variation of the lynx and the hare is an example of a predator-prey cycle. Environmental factors such as weather and forest plant growth that may affect this population variation have been studied. A number of other species that are unrelated to either animal, as far as food chains are concerned, show population cycles of similar lengths. These include abundance of atlantic salmons, chinch bugs in Illinois, tent caterpillars, coyote, hawk owl eggs, grouse, marten, mink, muskrat, fisher and hawks.

Conservation

The Canadian Lynx is trapped for its fur and has declined in many areas due to habitat loss.

References

1. Characteristics of Canada Lynx, Lynx canadensis, Maternal Dens and Denning Habitat, , BG, Slough, Canadian Field-Naturalist, 1999
2. Hares, Lynx, and Trappers, , MS, Weinstein, The American Naturalist, 1977

External links

★ Canada Lynx - U.S. FWS

★ Canadian Lynx research at the University of Minnesota - Duluth

★ Hinterland Who's Who - Canadian Lynx

★ What Drives the 10-year Cycle of Snowshoe Hares?