LIFE SPAN
up to 25 years in captivity, in the wild oldest recorded individual was 18-year-old
REPRODUCTION
sexually and socially mature at about one year; breed once a year, from February to mid-April
LITTER SIZE 1-4
pups are born in the den (usually in late May)
DIET
Mostly roe deer, in the Alpine part chamois, red deer (where densities are higher), dormice (mainly in the Dinarides)
SIZE
Adult animal 80-150 cm long, with a shoulder height of 65 cm
BODY MASS 15 – 21 kg
females are on average 2,5 kg lighter than males
FUR
light brown, with a characteristic spotted pigmentation (rosettes, larger spots or almost no pattern)
Did you know?
Lynx have a distinctive pattern of spots and speckles on their fur. Fur varies in colour, it is often patterned with rosettes (small spots in concentric circles), larger spots or occasionally unmarked. The pattern enables them to camouflage. It can also serve as a ”research tool”. Lynx can be individually identified using the photos from the camera traps, as each lynx has its own unique pattern on its fur. This research method is called photo-identification and is used by researchers to determine the minimum abundance of lynx in a given area.
Sight is the lynx’s most important sense. Its eyes are adapted to twilight and darkness. A special reflective layer at the back of its eyes acts as a mirror to reflect light, and the lynx can see perfectly in the dark.
The lynx is a predator that preys from ambush. It can hide its claws in folds of skin, allowing it to move almost inaudibly. It tries to get as close as possible to its prey, then catches it in a few jumps. Lynx can jump up to 8 metres.
Most of the lynx’s prey is deer, as larger prey is harder to catch. It feeds on its prey for 4 to 6 days and hides it from scavengers by covering it with leaves or snow. This works well for scavenging birds, but less so for animals with a good sense of smell, such as fox, marten, bear and wild boar. Beetles and many micro-organisms also feed on the remains of prey. Lynx prey is therefore a food source for many organisms in the forest.
