The lynx is a short-tailed cat of the family Felidae. Its scientific name is Felis lynx. The lynx is known for its sharp vision. Sharp-sighted people are sometimes referred to as “lynx-eyed.”
The lynx lives alone or in small groups. It is found in the forests of Europe, Asia, and northern North America. The endangered Spanish lynx is now found only in the mountain regions of southern Spain.
The lynx is a long-legged cat with hairy soles, a square head, and large paws adapted to moving through snow. Its coat is bushy on the neck. It is tawny to cream colored, with sprinklings of brown and black. The tail tip and ear tufts are black. In winter the fur is dense and soft, up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) long. The lynx is from 30 to 40 inches long (80 to 100 centimeters), without the 4- to 8-inch (10- to 20-centimeter) tail, and stands about 24 inches (60 centimeters) at the shoulder. It weighs from 22 to 44 pounds (10 to 20 kilograms). It climbs and swims well and is able to make great leaps.
The lynx hunts for food at night. It feeds on birds and small animals and sometimes on deer and sheep. The Canadian lynx depends heavily on snowshoe rabbits for food, and when the rabbits are scarce the lynx population decreases.
The lynx is generally silent, except during the mating season. It breeds in late winter or early spring. A litter of one to four young is born about two months after mating.
