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bobcat
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Photograph of a bobcat on a rocky ledge. World map displaying the geographic ranges of lynx species with color-coded areas: the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) in orange across Canada and Alaska, the bobcat (Lynx rufus) in green across the United States and parts of Mexico, the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in shades of blue and purple across Europe and northern Asia, and the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) in red in a small region of southwestern Europe. Bobcat (Felis rufa) standing alert on a rocky outcrop, with spotted fur and tufted ears, against a background of pine branches and blue sky.
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Photograph of a bobcat on a rocky ledge.
Bobcat (Lynx rufus) Growing to double the size of a domestic cat, the bobcat is the world's smallest lynx species.

bobcat

mammal
Also known as: Felis rufa, Lynx rufus, bay lynx, wildcat
Written by
Manjishtha Bhattacharyya
Manjishtha Bhattacharyya is an editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. She holds a PhD in zoology from Vidyasagar University, West Bengal, and has more than seven years of experience in science communication...
Manjishtha Bhattacharyya
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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bobcat, (Lynx rufus), cat found from southern Canada to southern Mexico, having long legs, large paws, a stout body, tufted ears, and a tail that looks “bobbed.” The bobcat is generally solitary and crepuscular (active during dusk and dawn). It is equally at home in forests and deserts and is sometimes found even in suburban areas. The bobcat is a close relative of the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), and it is often mistaken for one....

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