![]() ![]() ( Johnson, et al., 2006 Sunquist and Sunquist, 2002 Zhou, et al., 2017) The common ancestor of Lynx species was Lynx issiodorensis, which was distributed throughout Europe and Africa from the late Pliocene to early Pleistocene (Sunquist & Sunquist). The relationship amongst the 6 established sub-species of Lynx lynx and 3 proposed sub-species is an area of active research. Until recent genetic revelations, it was understood that Lynx pardinus was a subspecies of Lynx lynx (Zhou et. pardinus being sister taxa who form a monophyletic group with L. In 1979 Matyushkin was the first to recognize the genus as its own, but this was contested through the 1990s.Ī recent evaluation of the Felidae family using mtDNA hypothesizes that Lynx rufus is the least derived lineage, with L. The genus Lynx was first described by Linnaeus as a species within the Felis genus. ( Breitenmoser, et al., 2015 Kelly, et al., 2016 Rodríguez and Calzada, 2015 Vashon, 2016) ![]() They hunt for small game on the forest floor and are also known for their ability to catch fish from rivers. Forests occupied range from coniferous forests to boreal forests. Lynx can be found in mid to high altitude forests with relatively dense forest floor vegetation. They are more broadly distributed throughout the large wilderness of the Taiga and Siberia, with some endemic populations stretching from the northern edges of the Himalayas to central China. Fragmented pockets of Lynx species exist throughout the forests of Europe where they were widespread before human colonization. In North America populations of Lynx species can be found from southern Mexico, throughout the United States, and throughout Canada with the exception of Nunavut in the far north. Lynx are found in forested areas throughout the northern hemisphere. ( Gil-Sánchez and McCain, 2011 Kitchener, et al., 2017) Geographic Range There are two proposed sub-species of Lynx rufus under review in Mexico, distinct in their ecology (Kitchener et al., 2017). ![]() Within this species, there currently exists enough evidence to divide the species by eastern and western populations, with the barrier being relatively close to the eastern edges of the Rocky Mountains. Lynx rufus, or Bobcats, are found in the temperate forests of the United States and Mexico. However, recent genetic data and a further understanding of their wide dispersal ranges (of up to 1,100 km) have led felid taxonomists to conclude it represents a single species. It was previously thought that there were 3 subspecies, each found in different regions of glacial refugia with different climates (Kitchener et al., 2017). The northernmost of the North American lynx is the Canadian Lynx, Lynx Canadensis. This is easily the most threatened species in the genus and only consists of a handful of relatively small populations (Gil-Sánchez and McCain, 2011). Genetic data has recently distinguished the lineage as a distinct species found exclusively on the Iberian Peninsula. Until 2004, the Iberian Lynx, Lynx pardinus, was considered a sub-species of Lynx lynx. There are 6 recognized sub-species, with distinct lineages in the Balkans, Carpathian Mountains, the western and eastern halves of northern Europe, the Tibetan Plateau, and Asia-Minor. Lynx species are unique from one another in their distribution and genetics.Įurasian Lynx, Lynx lynx, have the widest distribution range of the genus. Lynx species are rather uniform in their general morphology, including body size, short tails, and ear tufts. ![]() Their general ecological ranges are uniform across the genus, with all populations found in forested regions. All Lynx species are obligate carnivores and feed primarily on small game, such as hare, rabbits, and rodents. The genus Lynx consists of 4 recognized species: Lynx lynx, Lynx rufus, Lynx canadensis, and Lynx pardinus. ![]()
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