Eurasian lynx facts, pictures, video, and in-depth information.
The Eurasian lynx is a large wild cat found across northern Europe and in parts of Asia. Due to its nocturnal lifestyle and liking for forest habitats it is seldom seen by humans.
Let’s find out more about this beautiful, but deadly, predator…
Eurasian Lynx Facts At A Glance
- Scientific name: Lynx lynx
- Type of Animal: Mammal
- Animal Family: Felidae (the cat family)
- Where Found: Europe and Asia
- Length: 80 to 130 cm (31 to 51 in)
- Tail Length: 11 to 24.5 cm (4.3 to 9.6 in)
- Shoulder Height: 60 to 75 cm (24 to 30 in)
- Weight Male: 18 to 30 kg (40 to 66 lb.); Female: 8 to 21 kg (18 to 46 lb.)
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
Meet The Eurasian Lynx: Introduction
The Eurasian lynx is a medium-large wild cat. It is the largest of the four lynx species and the third-largest land predator in Europe (after the brown bear and the Eurasian grey wolf).
This powerful felid is around three times the size – and six times the weight – of a typical domestic cat.
A felid is a member Felidae, the cat family. You can see a list of every species of wild cat on this page: Wild Cats List with Pictures & Facts
With its tufted ears, long legs, large paws and a short (‘bobbed’) tail, the Eurasian lynx is unmistakably a member of the genus lynx.
The other three lynxes are the Canadian lynx and the bobcat (both found in North America), and the endangered Iberian lynx, found in Spain.
Reaching over twice the weight of its North American cousins, the Eurasian lynx is able to overcome prey as large as a red deer or reindeer (although it is the young of these species that are usually targeted).
What Does The Eurasian Lynx Look Like?
You can a Eurasian lynx in the wild in the video below…
The Eurasian lynx has the typical athletic build of a wild cat. It has long, powerful legs and large paws. Its tail is short (‘bobbed’) and has a distinctive black tip.
The texture and color of the lynx’s coat varies seasonally. In the winter, the fur is long and thick, and silver / yellow-gray in color. In the summer, the coat is shorter and typically reddish or brown.
The Eurasian lynx’s coat is usually patterned with darker spots. The size, darkness and density of spots varies from individual to individual. Some Eurasian lynxes appear to have stripes; others appear to have no markings at all.
During the winter the lynx’s long cheek hair grows to an almost mane-like facial ruff. The tips of the animal’s large triangular ears end in black tufts.
Male Eurasian lynxes are larger and more powerfully-built than females.
Natural Snowshoes
The lynx’s large, furry paws are webbed for walking in snow. Although the lynx is much bigger and heavier than the European wildcat, these ‘natural snowshoes’ prevent it from sinking as deeply into snow as the smaller animal.
Distribution: Where Does The Eurasian Lynx Live?
The Eurasian lynx is one of the most widely-distributed of all of the world’s wild cat species. The species’ large range stretches from Western Europe to the easternmost parts of Russia, and south to Central Asia and the Tibetan Plateau.
Although the lynx’s range is large, the subpopulations found in regions such as Western Europe and Central Asia tend to be isolated and small.
Eurasian Lynx Subspecies
The Cat Specialist Group of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) currently recognizes six subspecies (types) of Eurasian lynx. The table below shows each subspecies’ English name, scientific name, and the region in which it is found.
Eurasian Lynx Subspecies
| Subspecies Name | Scientific Name | Where Found |
|---|---|---|
| Northern lynx | Lynx lynx lynx | Scandinavia, Baltic states, East Europe, Russia |
Turkestan lynx | Lynx lynx isabellinus | Central Asia |
Caucasian lynx | Lynx lynx dinniki | The Caucasus (a mountain range between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea) |
Siberian lynx | Lynx lynx wrangeli | Eastern Siberia |
| Balkan lynx | Lynx lynx balcanicus | The Balkans |
Carpathian lynx | Lynx lynx carpathicus | The Carpathian Mountains |
Eurasian Lynx Habitat
The Eurasian lynx is able to live in a wide range of habitats and climates. The species is mainly associated with forests.
Eurasian lynx forest habitats include:
- Forest-steppe (grasslands with areas of woodland or forest)
- Montane forest (forests in mountainous regions)
- Boreal forest / Taiga (northern forests with low average temperature)
In Central Asia, the Eurasian lynx also inhabits open areas such as rocky hills and mountains in desert regions.
The lynx is found at altitudes of up to 5,500 m (18,000 ft.). In the more mountainous parts of its range, the Eurasian lynx follows the movements of its prey animals, moving to lower altitudes during the winter.
Eurasian Lynx Facts: Behavior
The Eurasian lynx is solitary and highly secretive. It has a mainly nocturnal lifestyle and as a result is rarely seen. During the day, the lynx sleeps a concealed place such as a dense thicket of tall grass or in a tree.
Occasionally the Eurasian lynx will be active during the day. This is more likely during the mating season or when there are young to feed.
The lynx is known to travel 20 km (12 miles) in a single night, although a distance of 10 km (6 miles) is more usual. Lynxes are territorial, regularly patrolling and scent marking the boundaries of their territories.
The home range of the male often contains those of 1 or 2 females.
The Eurasian lynx is not particularly vocal outside of the mating season. The sounds it does produce include mews, hisses, growls and purrs.
During the mating season, both males and females vocalize more frequently, with males making loud growls and females making ‘meow’-like noises.
Both sexes mark their home ranges with gland secretions and scratching, as well as with urine and droppings.
The species spends most of its time on the ground, but is also capable of swimming and climbing.
Eurasian Lynx Facts: Life-Cycle
The mating season of the Eurasian lynx occurs between January and April. The female is receptive for a period of up to seven days and mates with only one male during the season. The male will often have multiple mates.
The gestation period lasts for 67 – 74 days. The female gives birth to a litter of 1 to 4 kittens in a secluded den that is often lined with materials such as dry grass, feathers and deer hair.
The kittens are born blind and weigh 240 to 430 g (8.5 to 15.2 oz.).
The kittens begin to take solid food at around 6 weeks of age. They are fully weaned after around 5 months and become fully independent at around 10 months of age.
What Do Eurasian Lynxes Eat?
The Eurasian lynx is a carnivore (meat-eater). Ungulates (hooved mammals such as deer) form the bulk of its prey.
The lynx prefers smaller species or the fawns of larger species, but is capable of taking down prey animals up to four times its size.
Ungulates on which the Eurasian lynx preys include roe deer, musk deer, chamois, reindeer and red deer.
The lynx will also eat smaller animals, such as wild pigs, beavers, hares, foxes, marmots and birds. It will also take domestic animals such as sheep and goats.
Hares and birds are important prey animals in drier and less forested habitats.
The main hunting method employed by the Eurasian lynx is a silent approach followed by an explosive run and final pounce. It will also ambush prey when the chance arrives.
The lynx is not suited to a prolonged chase. It will often break off from a chase if the pounce and initial short chase is unsuccessful.
A Eurasian lynx needs between 1 and 1.5 kg (2.2 and 3.3 lb.) of meat per day. A large kill can provide up to a fortnight’s food, and will be hidden under leaves or snow for the cat to return to.
Eurasian Lynx Predators
The Eurasian lynx is relatively large and well-armed, and has few predators of its own. Its biggest natural threat comes in the shape of wolves. A lynx will attempt to escape from a pack of wolves by climbing up a tree.
Depending on the region, tigers and wolverines may also pose a threat, but predation of the lynx by these species is rare.
Is The Eurasian Lynx Endangered?
The Eurasian lynx’s conservation status is ‘Least Concern’. The species is widely distributed and its population is stable throughout most of its range.
A number of smaller subpopulations are either endangered or critically endangered. The main threat to the lynx in these areas is habitat loss / fragmentation. Other threats include a shortage of prey animals and poaching.
Eurasian Lynx Facts: Discover More
- See every species of wild cat here: Wild Cats List with Pictures & Facts
- Discover amazing facts about mammals: Mammals: The Ultimate Guide
- Become an animal expert: Animals: The Ultimate Guide to the Animal Kingdom
- Discover amazing animals from all around the world: A to Z Animals
Are Eurasian Lynx the same as Canadian Lynx
Hi,
Great question!
No, they’re not the same species (but they are related).
The Eurasian lynx is found in Europe and Asia, and is substantially larger than the Canada lynx, which is found in North America.
There are four lynx species: Eurasian lynx, Iberian lynx, Canada lynx and bobcat.
You can see a list of every wild cat species (including the four lynx) on this page: Wild Cats List with Pictures & Facts
We hope this helps!
Regards,
The Active Wild Team