Eurasian Lynx, Russia's biggest feline

 

The Eurasian Lynx, an agile and astute feline also commonly referred to as the Siberian Lynx, are medium-sized cats that have stout bodies, stubby tails, and large paws with fur on the soles, that give the Eurasian lynx traction. Their long legs also help when walking in deep snow. These cats are good swimmers and have been seen crossing rivers. The largest of all lynx species, they are a shy, secretive cat. All of these characteristics allow them to move quickly and stealthily over short distances.

There are three main coat patterns: maily spotted, mainly striped, and un-patterned. The spotted and striped patterns are controlled by the tabby gene, which is mostly seen in reintroduced European lynx populations. Their fur is soft and thick, usually some shade of yellow or grayish brown with black spots and black markings on their face with white whiskers frame their muzzle. Like all lynx species, they possess large ruffs of hair that project horizontally from the sides of their face. They are also known for their distinctively prominent ear tufts. (long, black hair on the tips of their ears)

The Eurasian Lynx has a lot of prey at its disposal, such as small ungulates, roe deer, chamois and musk deer, hare, rabbit, and fox. They have been recorded taking down animals twice their own size. Stalking and then pouncing is the preferred hunting method. The lynx prefer densely forested habitat. Therefore, they are very elusive.

Of all the cat species, the Eurasian Lynx has one of the widest ranges, with about 70 percent within the confinds of Russia. Primarily living in forested regions throughout Europe and Siberia, they rely on areas with plenty of ungulates. Also located locally on the plateaus of Tibet, as well as the mountains and rocky hillsides of deserts in central Asia.

Lynx are vulnerable to destruction of their ungulate prey due to habitat destruction. Under harsh winter conditions, they may not be able to subsist successfully on smaller prey. Hunting pressure may also play a role in lynx population declines. Clear-cutting can have a negative effect on lynx abundance as well.