Scientific classification: Lynx belong to the family Felidae. The Spanish lynx is classified as Lynx pardinus, the bobcat as Lynx rufus, the Eurasian lynx as Lynx lynx, and the Canada lynx as Lynx canadensis.
Introduction
The Bobcat is the member of the genus of wild carnivores characterized by disproportionately long legs and large, heavy paws known as lynx. bobcat kittens Bobcats are found throughout the temperate and subarctic regions of the northern hemisphere. They are stout-bodied animals, 65 to 130 cm (26 to 51 in) in length, with thick, soft fur and short, stubby tails. Most species have a tuft of hair, more than 2 cm (0.78 in) long, at the tip of each ear. Bobcats are agile climbers, spending some of their time in good weather on the limbs of trees, waiting for the weaker mammals and terrestrial birds that constitute their prey to pass beneath them. It is also common for lynx to stalk their prey. Bobcat kittens In inclement weather and when breeding, Bobcats take shelter in caves or in hollow trees or logs. Two to four kittens make up the average litter. Bobcats are valued for their fur.
Different species of Bobcats
Generally, four species of bobcats are recognized: the Spanish lynx, which is listed as an endangered species; the bobcat, also known as the wildcat, which is widespread throughout the United States except for the midwestern Corn Belt; the Eurasian, or northern, Bobcat; and the Canada Bobcat. The Canada bobcat is found from the northern United States throughout Canada and Alaska; it is the largest species in North America, averaging 90 cm (3 ft) in head-and-body length, with a tail length of 5 to 14 cm (2 to 5.5 in). Bobcat kittens, the back is dark gray streaked with chestnut, and the belly is grayish-white, often with black spots. The species feeds chiefly on snowshoe hares, deer, and other ungulates. In 1998, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service designated the Canada lynx as a protected species throughout the forests of the lower 48 states.
Physical characteristics
Bobcats share many basic physical characteristics with domestic cats. The European wildcat is larger and stronger than the domestic cat and has a shorter, thicker tail and long, dense fur. In coloration it resembles the striped tabby cat. The African wildcat has a slighter build than the European wildcat and longer legs than domestic cats. Bobcat kittens, Populations that live in sandy areas have lighter, sandy-colored coats. The Central Asian wildcat is generally smaller than the African wildcat but has similar coloration that varies with its habitat. Male wildcats are generally bigger than females.
Wildcats generally have smaller litters than domestic cats, with two to four kittens being average with up to eight possible. Only two or three kittens generally survive. In Europe and Asia female wildcats give birth in early spring.