Monday, July 19, 2010

Iberian lynx (A great cat) in an attenuation space


Common Name: Iberian lynx, pardel lynx, Spanish lynx; Lynx d'Espagne ; Lynx pardelle.

Scientific Name: Lynx pardinus

Location: Southern Europe

Population: Around 110 individuals (now)


Physical Description

Iberian lynx is a relative species of the Eurasian lynx, the Canada lynx and the North American bobcat. It is approximately the same size as the Canada lynx but about half the size of the Eurasian lynx, which survives in central and Eastern Europe.

Adult lynx:
They Live in territories of up to 20 km², which they scent-mark and defend from each other, although male and female territories overlap. Territories relate to areas of habitat and rabbit supply, and can change over generations.They are separate species from the Eurasian lynx has long been questioned, but fossil records, morphological evidence clarified the cat as Lynx pardinus.
These are highly spotted and weighs about half as much as the Eurasian species. They possess long legs and a short tail with a black tip. Its coat is yellowish-brown with dark spots and it bears a characteristic "beard" around its face and prominent black ear tufts.

Size

A Male Iberian lynx may weigh up to 13 kg and 10 kg for females, and reach up to or 1 m (male) at adult stage and 88 cm (female)

Important Species:

This cat kills other carnivores - including foxes, Egyptian mongooses, and feral cats and dogs - to ensure sufficient supplies of rabbit populations and to protect their offspring.
The loss of the Iberian lynx could result in an increase in the density of more common predators and a consequent decrease in rabbit populations.

Interesting Facts

A mother may carry its cubs between up to 12 homes, to avoid predation.

Extinction:

They are decreasing steadily in population; This might be the first cat species to become extinct for at least 2,000 years.. Habitat loss and degradation, as well as the disappearance of food resources (rabbits) are contributing to this declining trend. Today, there are no more than 38 breeding females in the wild.

No comments:

Post a Comment