• Donate
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
Search
Close
Facebook-f Instagram Youtube
mobilebcr
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
Menu
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
Home Big Cat Facts

Iberian Lynx Facts

BCR by BCR
March 15, 2015
in Big Cat Facts
218
8
Iberian Lynx Facts
188
SHARES
3.8k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

Lynx Species – Spanish Lynx (Lynx pardinus)

http://bigcatrescue.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/IberianLynx-2015.mp3

 

The most rare species of Lynx is the Spanish Lynx. Its natural habitat is open forest and sand dunes in isolated areas of Spain and Portugal. It is an endangered species, with only 1,000 remaining in the wild. Its prized fur and label of agricultural pest has greatly reduced its range. It is now found mainly in a small enclave in Spain and few scattered populations in remote areas of Portugal.

There are noted differences from its relatives, the Eurasian Lynx: it is much smaller and its coat is more heavily marked with darker spots.

Its diet primarily consists of rabbits and hare, but will hunt deer, ducks, and fish. It can reach up to 54 pounds, head and body up to three feet, seven inches, tail up to five inches. The female will give birth to two to three young after a nine week gestation period.


Iberian Lynx

 

Iberian Lynx FactsCommon Name: Iberian Lynx, Spanish Lynx
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata (Vertebrata)
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Felinae (Lynx)
Species: pardina
Misc.: The debate continues whether or not the Iberian Lynx is in fact a separate species from the Canadian and Siberian Lynxes, or merely a subspecies. Experts are evenly divided on this subject, but for now, it remains a separate species based on its marked adaptive differences for prey capture. The name Lynx comes from the Greek word “to shine,” and may be in reference to the reflective ability of the cat’s eyes.

Size and Appearance: The Iberian Lynx is similar in its appearance to the Eurasian Lynx, but about half its size. Adult males weigh on the average 27.5 pounds and the females average 20. The fur is typically grayish, with tints varying from yellowish to rusty and is distinctly spotted. They have a flared facial ruff, long prominent black ear tufts, and long hind legs with a short black tipped tail. Their large, wide-spreading feet are covered in fur, which act like snowshoes, and are effective in supporting the cat’s weight on the snow. They are often confused with their smaller feline cousins the Bobcat, but can be easily distinguished by their tail tips. The tail of the Lynx looks as though it was dipped in an inkwell being black all the way around, whereas the Bobcat’s tail appears to have been painted black on top and white on the bottom.

Habitat: These Lynx are found to inhabit scrub vegetation, Mediterranean woodland and maquis thicket.

Distribution: The Iberian Peninsula.

Reproduction and Offspring: After a gestation of approximately 60 days, females produce a litter of 2-3 kittens. They reach independence by the age of 7-10 months, but will
remain in their natal territory until around 20 months old. Sexual maturity for this cat is directly related to demographic and environmental factors, and most females will not reproduce until a
territory has been secured. This may occur as early as her first winter, or as late as 5 years, or possibly never at all.

In the wild, Iberian Lynx have lived up to 13 years.

Social System and Communication: Unknown. Believed to be the same as the Eurasian Lynx, which would indicate a solitary animal except for mothers and kittens.

Hunting and Diet: Like the Canadian Lynx, the mainstay of this Lynx’s diet is the rabbit. During the winter months when rabbit populations are low, it will switch its prey base to red deer, fallow deer, mouflon and ducks. The energy requirements for this Lynx have been found to be 1 rabbit per day. These animals are primarily nocturnal, except during the winter months when they have diurnal activity peaks.

Principal Threats: The largest threat facing this Lynx is habitat destruction and the destruction of its prey base. The prey also suffered a major blow when an introduced disease – poxvirus myxomatosis – to which the European Hare had no natural immunity and was nearly decimated. By the time they started building a resistance to this disease and the numbers started to recover, a new disease –viral hemorrhagic pneumonia – took its place and killed a large number of adult rabbits. This cat also suffers at the hands of man, frequently being killed by traps and snares set for rabbits, and by being hit by cars as the number of roads increase. The Spanish Government is now in the process of developing a national conservation effort to save the Iberian Lynx.

Status: CITES: Appendix I. IUCN: Endangered.

 

*****Animals are also ranked by their level of vulnerability on a global level, which in essence ranks their extinction risk. They are ranked from Category 1 (critical) to Category 5 (common-low conservation priority). The Iberian Lynx is listed as Category 1, with less than 100 animals remaining in the wild.

Felid TAG recommendation: Spanish lynx (Lynx pardinus). Considered one of the rarest species on earth, the Spanish lynx suffers from having disjunct populations, continued habitat loss and accidental death from trappers and automobiles. Although the Spanish are making plans to initiate a captive-breeding program, it is not likely that this species will ever become available for export to North America.

Information reprinted With Permission from the IUCN Wild Cats Book.

 

Tags: Iberian lynxes
Previous Post

Siberian Lynx Facts

Next Post

Sand Cat Facts

Related Posts

Sept 9 2016
Big Cat Facts

Caracal Facts

June 1, 2020

Caracal Cat Interesting Facts Common Name: Caracal Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata (Vertebrata)...

Catrina
Big Cat Facts

Florida Panther Facts

January 10, 2020

Protect the Florida Panther or Lose Her Forever What is the Species?...

Catfight
Big Cat Facts

Catfight

December 24, 2019

Working together to protect Florida's panther. Florida panthers are in a fight...

Next Post
sandcats

Sand Cat Facts

Leave a Reply

  • Facebook Comments
  • Default Comments (8)

8 responses to “Iberian Lynx Facts”

  1. Stewart Chiodo says:
    May 21, 2012 at 8:10 pm

    I <3 iberian lynx.

    Reply
  2. Tyler Tiesman says:
    September 26, 2012 at 4:33 pm

    Iberian lynx reck

    Reply
  3. Jaime Felix Ochoa says:
    May 1, 2013 at 7:40 pm

    I love lynx.

    Reply
  4. Jaime Felix Ochoa says:
    May 1, 2013 at 7:41 pm

    I know every thing about them.

    Reply
  5. Izzy Elkington says:
    November 3, 2013 at 10:50 am

    not what i needed

    Reply
  6. 100% Cork says:
    July 30, 2014 at 5:01 pm

    Protect the Iberian Lynx, the most endangered big cat in the world. http://www.foodshedplanet.com/2013/06/lynx-across-generations-and-across.html #realcork #iberianlynx #endangeredspecies

    Reply
  7. tommytreewell says:
    June 1, 2021 at 10:36 pm

    really nice how they explained a lot and I love lynx so much ?❤️

    Reply
  8. lucy says:
    April 28, 2022 at 1:09 pm

    GO LYNX <3

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Help Feed Big Cats

One of the best ways to help is through general donations that can be used however it is most needed at the time.To make a general donation just click the Donate Now button below.  This is the best way to give as it has the lowest credit card processing fees and is immediate help for the cats.

Give to Big Cat Rescue

If you prefer to donate via Pay Pal, please use this link: Pay Pal

Recent Articles

  • The Himalayas are warming, and the snow leopards are losing their habitat March 24, 2023
  • “Lynx Captures Hearts with its Giant Fluffy Paws” March 24, 2023
  • Rafters fight off mountain lion attack along Arizona river March 24, 2023

Recent Comments

  • Owen Sanchez on Rare ocelot comes to the Tallahassee Museum on June 13
  • ANIL DAHAR on If a lion and tiger got into a fight, who would win?
  • bryan Christopher kirshon on Catfight
  • Jayden on TJ
  • Deb Quimby on AR Zoo Broward

Big Cat Rescue is accredited by the Global Federation of Sanctuaries

We are Certified by Independent Charities of America as a “Best in America Charity”

About Us

  • Big Cat Rescue Live 24/7 on Webcams
  • Rescue Missions
  • About Big Cat Rescue
  • Reviews
  • Our Recent Work
  • Sanctuary FAQs
  • Big Cat TV

Cats

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

Big cats may be the King of Beasts, but without you they can’t survive.

© Copyright 2023 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

Facebook-f Youtube Instagram
Cleantalk Pixel

Add New Playlist

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.