View source for Lynx

{{short description|Genus of medium-sized wild cats}}
{{About|the genus of wild cat|other uses|Lynx (disambiguation)}}
{{protection padlock|small=yes}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| italic_title = no
| name = Lynx<ref name="msw3">{{MSW3 Wozencraft |pages=541–542}}</ref>
| fossil_range = {{fossil range|Pliocene|Recent}}
| image = Lynx heads collage.jpg
| image_caption = The four species of lynx. From top-left, clockwise: [[Eurasian lynx]] (''L. lynx''), [[Iberian lynx]] (''L. pardinus''), [[bobcat]] (''L. rufus''), [[Canada lynx]] (''L. canadensis'')
| taxon = Lynx
| authority = [[Robert Kerr (writer)|Kerr]], 1792
| type_species = ''[[Eurasian lynx|Felis lynx]]''<ref name=MSW3b>{{MSW3 Wozencraft |id=14000151}}</ref>
| type_species_authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = *''[[Lynx lynx]]'' {{small|Linnaeus, 1758}}
*''[[Lynx canadensis]]'' {{small|Kerr, 1792}}
*''[[Lynx pardinus]]'' {{small|(Temminck, 1827)}}
*''[[Lynx rufus]]'' {{small|(Schreber, 1777)}}
*{{extinct}}''[[Lynx issiodorensis]]'' {{small|(Croizet & Jobert, 1828)}}
*{{extinct}}''[[Lynx thomasi]]'' {{small|Geraads, 1980}}<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Geraads |first1=Denis Date=1980 |title=Un nouveau felide (Fissipeda, mammalia) du pleistocene moyen du Maroc: Lynx thomasi N. sp. |journal=Geobios | date=1980 |volume=13 |issue=3 |pages=441–444|doi=10.1016/S0016-6995(80)80079-9| bibcode=1980Geobi..13..441G }}</ref>
*{{extinct}}''[[Lynx hei]]'' {{small|Jiangzuo ''et al.'', 2022}}
| range_map = Lynx range.png
| range_map_caption = ''Lynx'' ranges: {{legend|#f0942c|Eurasian lynx (''[[Lynx lynx]]'')}}
{{legend|#9176a8|Canadian lynx (''[[Lynx canadensis]]'')}}
{{legend|#e41831|Iberian lynx (''[[Lynx pardinus]]'')}}
{{legend|#47b64a|Bobcat (''[[Lynx rufus]]'')}}
}}
A '''lynx''' ({{IPAc-en|l|ɪ|ŋ|k|s}} {{respell|links}};<ref name="OxfordDic">{{cite web |title=Definition of lynx from Oxford Dictionary |work=[[Oxford Dictionaries (website)|Oxford Dictionaries]] |url=http://oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_gb0488070?rskey=Z0YVvr&result=2 |access-date=October 5, 2010 |archive-date=April 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412102649/http://oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_gb0488070?rskey=Z0YVvr&result=2 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> {{plural form}}: '''lynx''' or '''lynxes'''<ref name="Longman">{{cite web |title=lynx — Definition from Longman English Dictionary Online |work=[[Longman Dictionary]] |url=http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/lynx |access-date=October 5, 2010}}</ref>) is any of the four [[wikt:extant|extant]] [[species]] (the [[Canada&nbsp;lynx]], [[Iberian&nbsp;lynx]], [[Eurasian&nbsp;lynx]] and the [[bobcat]]) within the medium-sized wild [[Felidae|cat]] [[genus]] '''''Lynx'''''. The name originated in [[Middle English]] via Latin from the Greek word {{translit|grc|lynx}} ({{wikt-lang|el|λύγξ}}),<ref name="OxfordDic" /> derived from the [[Indo-European root]] {{wikt-lang|ine-pro|*leuk-}} ({{gloss|light}}, {{gloss|brightness}}), in reference to the luminescence of its [[tapetum lucidum|reflective eyes]].{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

== Appearance ==
[[File:Lynx lynx - 05.jpg|thumb|Profile view of a lynx]]
Lynx have a short tail, characteristic tufts of black hair on the tips of their ears, large, padded paws for walking on snow and long whiskers on the face. Under their neck, they have a ruff, which has black bars resembling a [[bow tie]], although this is often not visible.

Body colour varies from medium brown to goldish to beige-white, and is occasionally marked with dark brown spots, especially on the limbs. All species of lynx have white fur on their chests, bellies and on the insides of their legs, fur which is an extension of the chest and belly fur. The lynx's colouring, fur length and paw size vary according to the climate in their range. In the [[Southwestern United States]], they are short-haired, dark in colour and their paws are smaller and less padded. In colder northern climates lynx have thicker and lighter fur as well as larger and more padded paws that are well-adapted to snow.

The smallest species are the [[bobcat]] and the [[Canada lynx]], while the largest is the [[Eurasian lynx]], with considerable variations within species.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Physical characteristics of ''Lynx'' species
! Species
! Sex
! Weight
! Length
! Height (standing at shoulders)
|-
| ROWSPAN=2 | [[Eurasian&nbsp;lynx]]<br />[[File:Winter im Wildpark Bad Mergentheim, Luchs.jpg|100 px]]
| males
| {{cvt|18|to|30|kg|lb}}
| ROWSPAN=2 |{{cvt|81|to|129|cm|in|frac=2}}
| ROWSPAN=2 |{{cvt|70|cm|in|frac=2}}<ref name="Jackson">{{cite web |last=Jackson |first=Peter |title=Eurasian lynx |publisher=lynx.uio.no |date=April 24, 1997 |url=http://lynx.uio.no/jon/lynx/eulynx1.htm |access-date=May 28, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070527230029/http://lynx.uio.no/jon/lynx/eulynx1.htm |archive-date=May 27, 2007}}</ref><!--Ref applies to all three-->
|-
|females || {{cvt|18|kg|lb}}
|-
| [[Canada&nbsp;lynx]]<br />[[File:Lynx Canadensis.jpg|100 px]] || Both || {{cvt|8|to|14|kg|lb|abbr=}}|| {{cvt|90|cm|in|frac=2}} ||{{cvt|48|to|56|cm|in|frac=2}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.canadiangeographic.ca/article/animal-facts-canada-lynx|title=Animal Facts: Canada Lynx|last=politis|date=2016-04-04|website=Canadian Geographic|language=en|access-date=2020-01-01}}</ref><!--Ref applies to all three-->
|-
| ROWSPAN=2 | [[Iberian&nbsp;lynx]]<br />[[File:Iberian Lynx full body.JPG|100 px]]
| males
|{{cvt|12.9|kg|lb}}
| ROWSPAN=2 |{{cvt|85|to|110|cm|in|frac=2}}
| ROWSPAN=2 |{{cvt|60|to|70|cm|in|frac=2}}<ref name="unep-wcmc">{{cite web|title=Iberian lynx – ''Lynx pardinus'' |work=Species Data Sheets |publisher=[[United Nations Environment Programme]] – [[World Conservation Monitoring Centre]] |year=2004 |url=http://www.unep-wcmc.org/species/data/species_sheets/iberlynx.htm |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20080510211902/http://www.unep-wcmc.org/species/data/species_sheets/iberlynx.htm |archive-date=May 10, 2008}}</ref><ref name="adw">{{cite web |last=Johnson |first=Christopher |title=Lynx pardinus – Spanish lynx |work=Animal Diversity Web |publisher=University of Michigan Museum of Zoology |year=2011 |url=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Lynx_pardinus.html |access-date=May 29, 2011}}</ref><!--Refs apply to all three-->
|-
|females || {{cvt|9.4|kg|lb|frac=4}}
|-
| ROWSPAN=2 |[[Bobcat]]<br /><span style="{{MirrorH}}">[[File:Calero Creek Trail Bobcat.jpg|100 px]]</span>
| males
|{{cvt|7.3|to|14|kg|lb|frac=4}}<ref name="utd">{{cite book |last=Sparano |first=Vin T. |title=Complete Outdoors Encyclopedia |publisher=St. Martin's Press |date=September 1998 |isbn=0-312-19190-1 |page=[https://archive.org/details/completeoutdoors00spar/page/228 228] |url=https://archive.org/details/completeoutdoors00spar/page/228 }}</ref>
| ROWSPAN=2 |{{cvt|71|to|100|cm|in|frac=2}}<ref name="utd" />
| ROWSPAN=2 |{{cvt|51|to|61|cm|in|frac=2}}<ref name="cah">{{cite book |last=Cahalane |first=Victor H |title=Meeting the Mammals |publisher=Kessinger Publishing |date=March 1, 2005 |isbn=1-4179-9522-X |page=64}}</ref>
|-
|females || {{cvt|9.1|kg|lb|frac=4}}
|}

== Species ==
All living species of ''Lynx'' are thought to descend from ''[[Lynx issiodorensis]],'' which first appeared during the early [[Pliocene]] in Africa, around 4 million years ago, shortly afterwards dispersing into Eurasia. The bobcat is thought to have arisen from a dispersal across the [[Bering Land Bridge]] during the Early Pleistocene, around 2.5-2.4 million years ago, with the Iberian lynx suggested to have speciated around 1 million years ago, at the end of the Early Pleistocene, the Eurasian lynx is thought to have evolved from Asian populations of ''Lynx issidorensis''. The Canada lynx is thought to descend from a separate later migration of Eurasian lynx over the Bering Land Bridge around 200,000 years ago.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Boscaini |first=Alberto |last2=Madurell-Malapeira |first2=Joan |last3=Llenas |first3=Manel |last4=Martínez-Navarro |first4=Bienvenido |date=September 2015 |title=The origin of the critically endangered Iberian lynx: Speciation, diet and adaptive changes |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0277379115300408 |journal=Quaternary Science Reviews |language=en |volume=123 |pages=247–253 |doi=10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.07.001|hdl=11336/50100 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

The Pliocene felid ''Felis rexroadensis'' from North America has been proposed as an even earlier ancestor; however, this was larger than any living species, and is not currently classified as a true lynx.<ref name="WCoW">{{cite book |last1=Sunquist |first1=Mel |last2=Sunquist |first2=Fiona |title=Wild cats of the World |page=[https://archive.org/details/wildcatsofworld00sunq/page/153 153] |publisher=University of Chicago Press |location=Chicago |year=2002 |isbn=0-226-77999-8 |url=https://archive.org/details/wildcatsofworld00sunq/page/153 }}</ref><ref name="Werdelin1981">{{cite journal|author1=Werdelin, Lars|title=The evolution of lynxes|journal=Annales Zoologici Fennici|volume=18|issue=1|pages=37–71|year=1981|url=http://catsg.org/iberianlynx/04_library/4_3_publications/W/Werdelin_1981_Evolution_of_lynxes.pdf}}</ref> Another [[Extinction|extinct]] species of ''Lynx'', ''L. shansius'', inhabited what is now northern China during the Early Pleistocene,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Tong |first1=Haowen |last2=Zhang |first2=Bei |last3=Chen |first3=Xi |last4=Jiangzuo |first4=Qigao |last5=Liu |first5=Jinyi |last6=Wang |first6=Xiaoming |date=10 June 2023 |title=New carnivoran remains from the Early Pleistocene Shanshenmiaozui site in Nihewan Basin, northern China |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1040618223001313 |journal=[[Quaternary International]] |language=en |volume=658 |pages=60–79 |doi=10.1016/j.quaint.2023.04.003 |bibcode=2023QuInt.658...60T |access-date=28 April 2024 |via=Elsevier Science Direct|url-access=subscription }}</ref> though this species is considered by some researchers to be a junior synonym of ''L. issiodorensis''.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Kurtén, Björn|author2=Werdelin, Lars|title=The relationships of Lynx shansius Teilhard|journal=Annales Zoologici Fennici|volume=21|issue=2|pages=129–133|year=1984}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Jianzuo |first1=Q. |last2=Li |first2=L. |last3=Madurell-Malapeira |first3=J. |last4=Wang |first4=S. |last5=Li |first5=S. |last6=Fu |first6=J. |last7=Chen |first7=S. |year=2022 |title=The diversification of the lynx lineage during the Plio-Pleistocene—evidence from a new small ''Lynx'' from Longdan, Gansu Province, China |journal=Biological Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=136 |issue=4 |pages=536–551 |doi=10.1093/biolinnean/blac054 }}</ref>

=== Eurasian lynx ===
[[File:Lynx lynx2.jpg|thumb|right|Eurasian lynx]]
{{Main|Eurasian lynx}}
Of the four lynx species, the Eurasian lynx (''Lynx lynx'') is the largest in size. It is native to European, [[Central Asia]]n, and [[Siberia]]n forests. While its [[conservation status]] has been classified as "[[least concern]]", populations of Eurasian lynx have been reduced or [[local extinction|extirpated]] from much of Europe, where it is now being reintroduced.
During the summer, the Eurasian lynx has a relatively short, reddish or brown coat which is replaced by a much thicker silver-grey to greyish-brown coat during winter.<!--WCoW--> The lynx hunts by stalking and jumping on its prey, helped by the rugged, forested country in which it resides. A favorite prey for the lynx in its woodland habitat is [[Capreolus|roe deer]]. It will feed however on whatever animal appears easiest, as it is an opportunistic predator much like its cousins.<ref name="WCoW" />

=== Canada lynx ===
[[File:Lynx du Canada .jpg|thumb|right|Canada lynx]]
{{Main|Canada lynx}}

The Canada lynx (''Lynx canadensis''), or Canadian lynx, is a [[North America]]n felid that ranges in [[forest]] and [[tundra]] regions<ref name="BBCWildfactCanadaLynx">{{cite web |title=Canada lynx, American lynx |work=Science & Nature: Animals – Wildfacts |publisher=BBC |date=July 25, 2008 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/28.shtml |access-date=May 29, 2011}}</ref> across [[Canada]] and into [[Alaska]], as well as some parts of the [[northern United States]].  Historically, the Canadian lynx ranged from Alaska across Canada and into many of the northern [[U.S. state]]s. In the eastern states, it resided in the transition zone in which boreal coniferous forests yielded to deciduous forests.<ref name="National Wildlife Federation: Canadian Lynx">{{cite web |title=Canada Lynx |work=Science & Nature: Animals – Wildfacts |publisher=National Wildlife Federation |url=http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-library/mammals/canada-lynx.aspx |access-date=March 1, 2013 |archive-date=February 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217131604/http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Library/Mammals/Canada-Lynx.aspx }}</ref> By 2010, after an 11-year effort, it had been successfully reintroduced into [[Colorado]], where it had become extirpated in the 1970s.<ref name="Col"><br />• {{cite news |last=Banda |first=P. Solomon |title=Lynx reintroduction ruled a success in Colorado |agency=[[Associated Press]] |newspaper=[[The Denver Post]] |date=September 18, 2010 |url=http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_16107178 |access-date=September 18, 2010}}<br />• {{cite news |title=Colorado: Lynx No Longer Missing |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=New York Times |page=A13 |date=September 17, 2010 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/18/us/18brfs-LYNXNOLONGER_BRF.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220103/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/18/us/18brfs-LYNXNOLONGER_BRF.html |archive-date=2022-01-03 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=May 29, 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="DOW">{{cite press release
 |title=DOW Declares Colorado Lynx Reintroduction Program a Success
 |publisher=[[Colorado Division of Wildlife]]
 |date=September 17, 2010
 |url=http://wildlife.state.co.us/NewsMedia/PressReleases/Press.asp?PressId=6650
 |access-date=September 18, 2010
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718225025/http://wildlife.state.co.us/NewsMedia/PressReleases/Press.asp?PressId=6650
 |archive-date=July 18, 2011
}}</ref><ref name="CDOW">{{cite web|title=Success of the Lynx Reintroduction Program |publisher=[[Colorado Division of Wildlife]] |date=September 7, 2010 |url=http://wildlife.state.co.us/Research/Mammal/Lynx/ |access-date=September 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100827101521/http://wildlife.state.co.us/Research/Mammal/Lynx/ |archive-date=August 27, 2010}}</ref> In 2000, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated the Canada lynx a [[Threatened species#United States|threatened species]] in the [[lower 48 states]].<ref name="FedReg">{{cite web |title=§&nbsp;17.40 Special rules—mammals |work=65 Federal Register 16051 16086 |page=35 |publisher=[[National Archives and Records Administration]] |date=March 24, 2000 |url=http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/federal_register/fr3552.pdf |access-date=May 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018042312/http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/federal_register/fr3552.pdf |archive-date=October 18, 2011}}</ref>

The Canada lynx is a good climber and swimmer; it constructs rough shelters under fallen trees or rock ledges.<!--BBCWildfactCanadaLynx--> It has a thick coat and broad paws, and is twice as effective as the bobcat at supporting its weight on the snow.<!--BBCWildfactCanadaLynx--> The Canada lynx feeds almost exclusively on [[snowshoe hare]]s; its population is highly dependent on the population of this prey animal.<!--BBCWildfactCanadaLynx--> It will also hunt medium-sized [[mammal]]s and [[bird]]s if hare numbers fall.<ref name="BBCWildfactCanadaLynx" />

=== Iberian lynx ===
[[File:Lynx pardinus.png|thumb|right|Iberian lynx]]
{{Main|Iberian lynx}}

The Iberian lynx (''Lynx pardinus'') is a [[vulnerable species]] native to the [[Iberian Peninsula]] in [[Southern Europe]]. It was the most endangered cat species in the world,<ref name="decpaper">{{cite web |last=Ward |first=Dan |title=LynxBrief |publisher=IberiaNature |date=December 12, 2008 |url=http://www.iberianature.com/material/documents/LynxBrief12E.pdf |access-date=May 30, 2011}}</ref> but conservation efforts have changed its status from critical to endangered to vulnerable. The loss of the species would have been the first [[Felidae|feline]] extinction since the ''[[Smilodon]]'' 10,000 years ago.<ref name="Cubs">{{cite news |last=Gonçalves |first=Eduardo |title=Captured cubs hold future of Europe's tiger |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/apr/21/highereducation.biologicalscience |date=April 21, 2002 |access-date=November 14, 2010}}</ref> The species used to be classified as a subspecies of the Eurasian lynx, but is now considered a separate species. Both species occurred together in central [[Europe]] in the [[Pleistocene]] epoch, being separated by habitat choice.<ref name="iucncsg">{{cite web|url=http://lynx.uio.no/jon/lynx/lynxib01.htm|title=Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus)|year=1996|work=Cat Specialist Group Species Accounts|publisher=IUCN – The World Conservation Union|format=Page navigation contains an imagemap|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724185701/http://lynx.uio.no/jon/lynx/lynxib01.htm|archive-date=July 24, 2011|access-date=May 29, 2011}}</ref> The Iberian lynx is believed to have evolved from ''[[Lynx issiodorensis]]''.<ref name="Bjorn">{{cite book |first=Björn |last=Kurtén |title=Pleistocene Mammals of Europe |year=1968}}</ref>

=== Bobcat ===
[[File:Calero Creek Trail Bobcat.jpg|thumb|right|Bobcat]]
{{Main|Bobcat}}

The bobcat (''Lynx rufus'') is a North American wild cat. With 13 recognized subspecies,<!--Not in ref, common fact?--> the bobcat is common throughout southern Canada, the [[continental United States]], and northern Mexico.<ref name=ZielinskiKucera>{{cite book |first1=William J. |last1=Zielinski |first2=Thomas E. |last2=Kucera |year=1998 |title=American Marten, Fisher, Lynx, and Wolverine: Survey Methods for Their Detection. |page=74 |location=USA |publisher=Diane Publishing |isbn=978-0-7881-3628-3}}</ref> Like the Eurasian lynx, its conservation status is "least concern."<ref>{{Cite iucn |title=''Lynx rufus'' |author=Kelly, M. |author2=Morin, D. |author3=Lopez-Gonzalez, C. A. |name-list-style=amp |year=2016 |article-number=e.T12521A50655874}}</ref> The bobcat is an adaptable predator that inhabits [[Temperate deciduous forest|deciduous]], [[Temperate coniferous forest|coniferous]], or [[Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests|mixed]] woodlands, but unlike other ''Lynx'', does not depend exclusively on the deep forest, and ranges from swamps and desert lands to mountainous and agricultural areas, its spotted coat serving as camouflage.<ref name=Whitaker>{{cite book |first1=William J. |last1=Hamilton |first2=John O. |last2=Whitaker |title=Mammals of the Eastern United States |publisher=Cornell University Press |year=1998 |isbn=0-8014-3475-0 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/mammalsofeastern00whit/page/493 493–496] |url=https://archive.org/details/mammalsofeastern00whit/page/493 }}</ref> The population of the bobcat depends primarily on the population of its prey.<ref name="Proposal">{{cite web|title=Deletion of Bobcat (''Lynx rufus'') from Appendix II |work=Thirteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties, Proposal 5 |publisher=[[Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora]] |date=October 2004 |url=http://www.cites.org/common/cop/13/raw_props/US-Lynx%20rufus.pdf |access-date=May 31, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102215719/http://www.cites.org/common/cop/13/raw_props/US-Lynx%20rufus.pdf |archive-date=November 2, 2013}}</ref> Nonetheless, the bobcat is often killed by larger predators such as [[coyote]]s.<ref>Fedriani, J. M., T. K. Fuller, R. M. Sauvajot and E. C. York. 2000. Competition and intraguild predation among three sympatric carnivores. Oecologia, 125:258–270.</ref>

The bobcat resembles other species of the genus ''Lynx'', but is on average the smallest of the four. Its coat is variable, though generally tan to grayish brown, with black streaks on the body and dark bars on the forelegs and tail. The ears are black-tipped and pointed, with short, black tufts. There is generally an off-white color on the lips, chin, and underparts. Bobcats in the desert regions of the southwest have the lightest-colored coats, while those in the northern, forested regions have the darkest.<ref name="cah" />

== Behavior and diet ==
The lynx is usually solitary, although a small group of lynx may travel and hunt together occasionally. Mating takes place in the late winter and once a year the female gives birth to between one and four kittens. The gestation time of the lynx is about 70 days. The young stay with the mother for one more winter, a total of around nine months, before moving out to live on their own as young adults. The lynx creates its den in crevices or under ledges. It feeds on a wide range of animals from [[white-tailed deer]], [[reindeer]], [[roe deer]], small [[red deer]], and [[chamois]], to smaller, more usual prey: [[snowshoe hare]]s, [[fish]], [[fox]]es, [[sheep]], [[squirrel]]s, [[mouse|mice]], [[Turkey (bird)|turkeys]] and other [[bird]]s, and [[goat]]s. It also eats [[lagopus|ptarmigans]], [[vole]]s, and [[grouse]].

== Distribution and habitat ==
[[File:Stalking Lynx (5516764719).jpg|250px|thumbnail|A lynx stalking prey]]
The lynx inhabits high altitude forests with dense cover of shrubs, reeds, and tall grass. Although this cat hunts on the ground, it can climb trees and can swim swiftly, catching fish.

=== Europe and Asia ===
The [[Eurasian lynx]] ranges from central and northern [[Europe]] across [[Asia]] up to Northern [[Pakistan]] and [[India]]. In [[Iran]], they live in [[Mount Damavand]] area.<ref>"Iran Environmental and Wild life Watch" http://www.iew.ir/1392/10/21/20008 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112130938/http://www.iew.ir/1392/10/21/20008 |date=2014-01-12 }}</ref> Since the beginning of the 20th century, the Eurasian lynx was considered extinct in the wild in [[Slovenia]] and [[Croatia]]. A resettlement project, begun in 1973, has successfully reintroduced lynx to the Slovenian Alps and the Croatian regions of Gorski Kotar and Velebit, including Croatia's [[Plitvice Lakes National Park]] and [[Risnjak National Park]]. In both countries, the lynx is listed as an endangered species and protected by law. The lynx was distributed throughout [[Japan]] during [[Jōmon period]]; with no paleontological evidence thereafter suggesting extinction at that time.<ref name="群馬博物">{{cite journal|author-link1=:ja:長谷川善和 |last1=Hasegawa |first1=Y. |last2=Kaneko |first2=H. |last3=Tachibana |first3=M. |last4=Tanaka |first4=G.|year=2011 |script-title=ja:日本における後期更新世～前期完新世産のオオヤマネコ''Lynx''について|trans-title=A study of the extinct Japanese ''Lynx'' from the Late Pleistocene to the Early Holocene|language=ja, en|journal=Bulletin of Gunma Museum of Natural History|volume=15|pages=43–80|issn=1342-4092|url=http://www.gmnh.pref.gunma.jp/wp-content/uploads/bulletin15_3.pdf}}</ref>

Several lynx resettlement projects begun in the 1970s have been successful in various regions of [[Switzerland]]. Since the 1990s, there have been numerous efforts to resettle the Eurasian lynx in [[Germany]], and since  2000, a small population can now be found in the [[Harz]] mountains near [[Bad Lauterberg]].

The lynx is found in the [[Białowieża Forest]] in northeastern [[Poland]], and in the northern and western parts of China, particularly the [[Tibetan Plateau]]. In [[Romania]], the numbers exceed 2,000, the largest population in Europe outside of [[Russia]], although most experts consider the official population numbers to be overestimated.<ref name="KORA">{{cite web |title=Status and conservation of the Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) in Europe in 2001 |format=PDF [17.09 Mb] |publisher=Coordinated research projects for the conservation and management of carnivores in Switzerland (KORA) |url=http://www.kora.ch/fileadmin/file_sharing/5_Bibliothek/52_KORA_Publikationen/520_KORA_Berichte/KORA_19_E_Lynx_Survey_Europe_part_1_Intro.pdf |access-date=January 8, 2014 |archive-date=January 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108110335/http://www.kora.ch/fileadmin/file_sharing/5_Bibliothek/52_KORA_Publikationen/520_KORA_Berichte/KORA_19_E_Lynx_Survey_Europe_part_1_Intro.pdf }}</ref>

The lynx is more common in northern Europe, especially in [[Norway]], [[Sweden]], [[Estonia]], [[Finland]], and the northern parts of [[Russia]]. The Swedish population is estimated to be 1200–1500 individuals, spread all over the country, but more common in middle Sweden and in the mountain range. The lynx population in Finland was 1900–2100 individuals in 2008, and the numbers have been increasing every year since 1992. The lynx population in Finland is estimated currently to be larger than ever before.<ref name="ilves">{{cite web|title=Ilves |language=fi |publisher=Riista- ja kalatalouden tutkimuslaitos |location=Finland |date=October 14, 2010 |url=http://www.rktl.fi/riista/riistavarat/suurpedot_2009/ilves.html |access-date=May 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717035746/http://www.rktl.fi/riista/riistavarat/suurpedot_2009/ilves.html |archive-date=July 17, 2011}}</ref> Lynx in [[United Kingdom|Britain]] were wiped out in the 17th century, but there have been calls to reintroduce them to curb the numbers of [[deer]].<ref name="TelegrReint">{{cite news |last=Moore |first=Matthew |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/4612084/Lynx-should-be-reintroduced-to-Britain-to-cull-deer.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216184401/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/4612084/Lynx-should-be-reintroduced-to-Britain-to-cull-deer.html |archive-date=February 16, 2009 |title=Lynx 'should be reintroduced to Britain to cull deer' |publisher=Telegraph.co.uk |date=February 13, 2009 |access-date=November 14, 2010 |location=London}}</ref>

The endangered [[Iberian lynx]] lives in southern [[Spain]] and formerly in eastern [[Portugal]].{{Update inline|date=September 2022|reason=See [[Iberian lynx]]. As of today, the range of the Iberian lynx also includes Portugal.}} There is an Iberian lynx reproduction center outside [[Silves Municipality, Portugal|Silves]] in the [[Algarve]] in southern Portugal.

=== North America ===
[[File:Lynx mom with cub.jpg|thumb|A mother and cub, [[Kenai National Wildlife Refuge]], Alaska]]
The two ''Lynx'' species in North America, Canada lynx and [[bobcat]]s, are both found in the [[Temperateness|temperate zone]].<!--Same ref--> While the bobcat is common throughout southern Canada, the continental United States and northern Mexico, the Canada lynx is present mainly in [[boreal forest]]s of Canada and Alaska.<ref name="ZielinskiKucera" />

== See also ==
* [[Caracal]], a small African cat with lynx-like ears and (relatively) short tail
* [[Lynx (constellation)]]
* [[Lynx (mythology)]]
* [[Wildcat]], a small predator native to Europe, the western part of Asia, and Africa
{{clear}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
*{{Wikispecies-inline}}
*{{Commons category-inline|Lynx}}

{{Carnivora|Fe.}}
{{Feliformia|Fel.|state=collapsed}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q677014}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Lynx| ]]
[[Category:Fauna of the Holarctic realm]]
[[Category:Carnivoran genera]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Robert Kerr (writer)]]
[[Category:Felines]]