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lynx
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Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) A line graph with red and blue shaded areas shows cyclical rises and falls in the populations of snowshoe hares and lynx from 1855 to 1925, illustrating how hare population peaks are followed by lynx population peaks. Small illustrations of a running snowshoe hare and a lynx appear above the graph. Bobcat (Felis rufa) standing alert on a rocky outcrop, with spotted fur and tufted ears, against a background of pine branches and blue sky. A small catlike animal with brown fur, a short tail, and hair growing on the tips of its ears stands in snow. An Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) with spotted fur, tufted ears, and a short tail stands alert on forest ground near a tree in Castilla la Mancha, Spain. Juvenile Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) standing on dry grass, looking toward the camera with ears upright and tail curled. 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.
At a Glance
A small catlike animal with brown fur, a short tail, and hair growing on the tips of its ears stands in snow.
lynx summary
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Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus)
Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) Also known as the Spanish lynx or the Pardel lynx, the species bears a strong resemblance to the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), but it may be distinguished by its smaller size; short, dark-tipped tail; and the presence of long, white, beardlike fur under its chin.

lynx

mammal
Also known as: Lynx
Written by
John P. Rafferty
John P. Rafferty writes about Earth processes and the environment. He serves currently as the editor of Earth and life sciences, covering climatology, geology, zoology, and other topics that relate to...
John P. Rafferty
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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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•History

lynx, (genus Lynx), any of four species of short-tailed cats (family Felidae) found in the forests of Europe, Asia, and North America. The Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) and the bobcat (L. rufus) live in North America. The Eurasian lynx (L. lynx) and the Iberian lynx (L. pardinus) are their European counterparts. The Iberian lynx, which lives primarily in the mountainous scrubland of southern Spain, was the world’s most endangered feline during the early 2010s; however,...

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