American lynx. Red lynx (Lynx rufus, Felis rufus)Eng
Bobcat, Latin name: Lynx rufus Schreber, 1777
Distribution: distributed in the southern half North America: From extreme southern Canada to central Mexico and from the east to west coasts of the United States. The approximate area of the range is more than 2,500,000 square km.
The bobcat is the most common wild cat on the North American continent. In general appearance it is a typical lynx, but it is almost twice as small common lynx and not so long-legged and wide-legged.
Since bobcats live in areas with milder climates, they do not have furry “snow skis” on their paws like their northern relatives. Their fur is also not so fluffy and warm. The tufts on their ears are much smaller than those of ordinary ones. But her tail is longer. All claws are retractable. Their dental formula is i3/3, c1/1, p2/3, m1/1 x 2: 30 teeth in total.
Color: Red-brown coat gray tint and numerous dark spots. Unlike true lynxes, the bobcat has a white marking on its inside the tip of the tail, whereas in lynxes it is completely black. Southern subspecies have more black markings than northern ones. There are individuals completely black (melanistic) and white(albinos), and the first ones are only in Florida. 
The length of her body including the tail is 76.2-127 cm (body length: 62-95cm, tail: 13-20cm), height at the withers: 45-58 cm.
Weight: males: 8.9-13.3 kg, females: 5.8-9.2 kg. The largest red lynx weighed 17.6 kg, which is officially documented.
Lifespan: They can live up to 20 years in the wild (average 15.5 years), and up to 32 years in captivity.
Habitat: The habitat of these cats is very diverse - from swamps in the southeast of the continent to rocky snowy areas in the northwest and canyons in the southeast. The bobcat lives in subtropical swamp forests, on bare mountain slopes, among cacti on desert plains, in cultural landscapes and even in surrounding areas. big cities. They feel equally at home in open spaces and forests, although they avoid extremely wet habitats such as swamps or extremely dry ones such as deserts.
Enemies: The main enemy is man. Natural enemies bobcats - big cats: jaguars, pumas and Canadian lynxes, as well as coyotes and wolves. The fox and owl, if possible, can hunt kittens. 
These predators feed mainly on voles, squirrels, mice, rats, ground squirrels, porcupines and other rodents and small mammals, birds (in particular wild turkeys), they also catch snakes, bats, insects, but their favorite prey remains American rabbits and hares. If there is a lack of small prey, they can also attack young ungulates (white-tailed deer), especially in winter. They are not shy about going onto farms to pick up domestic animals (goats and sheep) and birds (chickens, turkeys, etc.). Rarely eats plant foods, in particular fruits.
In difficult times without food, the lynx can even be content with carrion, and sometimes steals the carcasses of animals caught in hunting traps.
Red lynxes lead a predominantly crepuscular lifestyle, preferring to go hunting in the evening and in the morning. They hunt much less often at night, and during the day they can be found only in winter.
These predators have persistent habits - they have favorite resting places and trails that are constantly used during their wanderings. Although the bobcat is a good tree climber, it only climbs trees in search of food and shelter, but spends most of its life on the ground.
Bobcats are extremely mobile. Dispersal over a territory averages less than 50 km, but can reach at least 150-200 km during times when food is scarce. Red lynxes are capable of jumping over significant obstacles at high speed while hunting.
The red lynx is a patient and stealthy hunter, with excellent eyesight and hearing that help them in their hunt. The hunt for prey occurs almost exclusively on the ground, in the form of a pursuit (as an exception, it can be in ambush in a tree). Bobcats can run up to 30 miles in an hour, but they prefer to cover themselves.
They use their claws to catch the animal. The killing of its prey is carried out by a bite to the base of the skull (crushing the occipital vertebrae), while the predator is at the top, on the dorsal side of its victim.
Red lynxes can eat about 1.4 kg of meat at one time. If the prey is large enough, the lynx hides the uneaten remains in order to return to it the next day.
For rest, the red lynx chooses a new place every day, without lingering in the old one. This could be a crack in the rocks, a cave, a hollow log, a space under a fallen tree, etc. On the ground or snow, the red lynx takes a step approximately 25 - 35 cm long; The size of an individual footprint is approximately 4.5 x 4.5 cm. When walking, they place their hind paws exactly in the tracks left by their front paws. Thanks to this, they never make very loud noise from the crackling of dry twigs under their feet. Soft pillows on their legs help them calmly sneak up to the animal at close range. Bobcats are good tree climbers and can also swim across a small body of water, but they only do this on rare occasions.
Social structure: Red lynxes lead a solitary lifestyle, and contacts between individuals of the opposite sex occur only during the mating season.
They are territorial animals and have their own areas, the boundaries of which can narrow or expand, which is inversely proportional dependence depending on the amount of game available.
Their territorial boundaries are marked by urine, excrement and secretions from their skin glands. In addition, lynxes make scratches with their claws on tree trunks, which serve as visual marks.
The area of an individual range varies widely, from 0.2 to 80 square miles, and depends on both the type of habitat and the abundance of prey in it. Thus, in Louisiana, the area of the male's territory averages about 5 square kilometers and 1 square km for females. In Idaho, the range area averaged 42 square kilometers for males and 19 for females. In the south, in the state of Florida, even up to 500 animals per 100 km2 have been recorded!
Reproduction: The breeding season is not confined to a strictly defined season, but mating usually occurs in the spring. It is interesting to note that red lynxes can have two litters per year, thanks to sufficient short term pregnancy. In addition, female bobcats are forced ovulators (that is, they ovulate during mating, and in response to mating), therefore, mating can occur at any time of the year.
Pregnant females find shelter for childbirth in dens, which are built in small caves, rock piles or large voids in tree trunks. Kittens are born blind and helpless, weigh from 280 to 340 grams, their eyes open at 10 days of age. The female feeds newborn kittens for 8 weeks. During this period, kittens gain about 25 g in weight daily.
The mother brings the caught prey to the cubs' den for a little more than a week after weaning, and then they begin to hunt and travel with her for another three to five months. At nine months they begin to form their own territory.
According to some reports, both parents feed the young while they are in the den.
Breeding season/period: Usually breeds from February to June. Sometimes a female gives birth to two litters per year: usually in spring and late summer.
Puberty: Females become sexually mature at 12 months, males at 24 months.
Offspring: 2–4 kittens are born in a litter, rarely up to 6.
In Mexico, bobcats often prey on domestic animals (especially sheep) and birds, which has led farmers to “declare war” on them. Their skins are beautiful, so red lynx fur is in demand and has a certain commercial value. For example, between 1991 and 1992 alone, about 22,000 lynx were killed.
While common lynxes were reducing their numbers under the influence of anthropogenic factors, red lynxes learned to get along with humans. As people mastered the wilderness, they multiplied more and more and now live everywhere from southern Canada to northern Mexico. Its total population is estimated at approximately 725,000-1,020,000 individuals.
This species is now listed in Appendix II of the CONVENTION Sites.
Lynx rufus subspecies:
L.r. baileyi (American and Northwestern Mexico southwest)
L.r. californicus (Pacific Coast USA - California)
L.r. escuinapae (Mexico)
L.r. fasciatus (Pacific Coast Northwest USA and Canada)
L.r. floridanus (Southeastern US)
L.r. giga (Northeastern US and Canada)
L.r. oaxacensis (Southern Mexico)
L.r. pallescens (Northwestern US and Canada)
L.r. peninsularis (Baja Peninsula)
L.r. rufus (And Northeastern US midwestern)
L.r. superiorensis (Northern Great Lakes)
Californian ground cuckoo
is a North American bird from the cuckoo family (Cuculidae). It lives in deserts and semi-deserts in the south and southwest of the United States and northern Mexico.
Adult ground cuckoos reach a length of 51 to 61 cm, including the tail. They have a long, slightly downward curved beak. The head, crest, back and long tail are dark brown with light splashes. The neck and belly are also light. Very long legs and a long tail are adaptations to the desert running lifestyle.
Most representatives of the cuckoo suborder stay in the crowns of trees and shrubs, fly well, and this species lives on the ground. Thanks to the peculiar build of the body and long legs, the cuckoo moves completely like a chicken. As she runs, she stretches her neck somewhat, slightly opens her wings and raises her crest. Only when necessary does the bird fly into trees or fly short distances.The California ground cuckoo can reach speeds of up to 42 km/h. The special arrangement of her toes also helps her in this, since both outer toes are located back, and both inner toes are located forward. However, due to its short wings, it flies very poorly and can stay in the air for only a few seconds.
The California ground cuckoo has developed an unusual, energy-efficient way to spend cold nights in the desert. At this time of day, her body temperature drops and she falls into a kind of motionless hibernation. On its back there are dark areas of skin not covered with feathers. In the morning, she spreads her feathers and exposes these areas of skin to the sun, due to which her body temperature quickly returns to normal levels.
This bird spends most of its time on the ground and hunts snakes, lizards, insects, rodents and small birds. She is fast enough to kill even small vipers, which she grabs by the tail with her beak and hits her head on the ground like a whip. She swallows her prey whole. Yours English name This bird received the Road Runner because it used to run after postal carriages and grab small animals disturbed by their wheels.
The ground cuckoo fearlessly appears where other desert inhabitants are reluctant to penetrate - into the domain of rattlesnakes, since these poisonous reptiles, especially young ones serve as prey for birds. The cuckoo usually attacks the snake, trying to hit it in the head with its powerful long beak. At the same time, the bird constantly jumps, dodging the opponent’s throws. Ground cuckoos are monogamous: during the period of hatching the chicks, a pair is formed, and both parents incubate the clutch and feed the cuckoos. Birds build a nest from twigs and dry grass in bushes or thickets of cacti. There are 3 - 9 white eggs in a clutch. Cuckoo chicks are fed exclusively by reptiles.Death Valley
Death Valley got its name from settlers who crossed it in 1849, seeking the shortest route to the California gold mines. The guidebook briefly reports that “some stayed there forever.” The dead were ill-prepared for crossing the desert, did not stock up on water and lost their orientation. Before dying, one of them cursed this place, calling it Death Valley. The few survivors withered mule meat on the wreckage of dismantled carts and reached their goal. They left behind “cheerful” geographical names: Death Valley, Funeral Ridge, Last Chance Ridge, Coffin Canyon, Dead Man's Passage, Hell's Gate, Rattlesnake Gorge, etc.
Death Valley is surrounded on all sides by mountains. This is a seismically active region, the surface of which shifts along fault lines. Huge blocks of the earth's surface move during underground earthquakes, the mountains become higher, and the valley goes lower and lower in relation to sea level. On the other hand, erosion is constantly occurring - the destruction of mountains as a result of the influence of natural forces. Small and large stones, minerals, sand, salts and clay washed away from the surface of the mountains fill the valley (now the level of these ancient layers is about 2,750 m). However, the intensity geological processes much exceeds the force of erosion, so in the next millions of years the trend of “growth” of the mountains and lowering of the valley will continue.
The Badwater Basin is the lowest part of Death Valley, located at 85.5 m below sea level. Sometime after Ice Age Death Valley was a huge lake with fresh water. The local hot and dry climate contributed to the inevitable evaporation of water. Annual short-term, but very intense rains wash tons of minerals from the surface of the mountains into the lowlands. The salts remaining after the evaporation of water settle at the bottom, reaching their highest concentration in the lowest place, in a reservoir with poor water. Here, rainwater lingers longer, forming small temporary lakes. Once upon a time, the first settlers were surprised that their dehydrated mules refused to drink water from these lakes, and marked “bad water” on the map. This is how this area got its name. In fact, the water in the pool (when it is available) is not poisonous, but it tastes very salty. It also has its own unique inhabitants that are not found in other places: algae, aquatic insects, larvae, and even a mollusk named after its place of residence, Badwater Snail.
In a vast area of the valley, located below the level of the World Ocean, and which was once the bottom of a prehistoric lake, one can observe the amazing behavior of salt deposits. This area is divided into two different zones, differing in texture and shape of salt crystals. In the first case, salt crystals grow upward, forming bizarre pointed piles and labyrinths 30-70 cm high. They form a foreground interesting in its chaos, well emphasized by the rays of the low sun in the morning and evening hours. Sharp as knives, growing crystals on a hot day emit an ominous, unique crackling sound. This part of the valley is quite difficult to navigate, but it is better not to spoil this beauty.
Nearby is the lowest area in the Valley Badwater Basin. Salt behaves differently here. A uniform salt grid 4-6 cm high is formed on an absolutely flat white surface. The grid consists of figures gravitating towards a hexagon in shape, and covers the bottom of the Valley with a huge web, creating an absolutely unearthly landscape.
In the southern part of Death Valley is a flat, level clay plain - the bottom of the dry lake Racetrack Playa - called Racetrack Playa. According to the very phenomenon found in this area - “self-propelled” stones.Sailing stones, also called sliding or crawling stones, are a geological phenomenon. The stones move slowly along the clayey bottom of the lake, as evidenced by the long tracks left behind them. The stones move independently without the help of living creatures, but no one has ever seen or recorded the movement on camera. Similar movements of stones have been noted in several other places, but in terms of the number and length of tracks, Racetrack Playa stands out from the rest.
In 1933, Death Valley was declared a national monument, and in 1994 it received the status National Park and the park's territory was expanded to include another 500 thousand hectares of land.
The park's territory includes the Salina Valley, most of the Panamint Valley, as well as areas of several mountain systems. In the west rises Mount Telescope Peak, in the east – Mount Dante’s View, from the height of which a beautiful view of the entire valley opens.
There are many picturesque places here, especially on the slopes adjacent to the desert plain: the extinct Ubehebe volcano, the Titus Canyon. 300 m and length 20 km; a small lake with very salty water, in which a small shrimp lives; there are 22 species in the desert unique plants, 17 species of lizards and 20 species of snakes. The park has a unique landscape. This is an unusual wild beautiful nature, graceful rock formations, snow-capped mountain peaks, scorching salt plateaus, shallow canyons, hills covered with millions of delicate flowers.coati- a mammal from the genus Noshu of the raccoon family. This mammal received its name for its elongated and very funny movable snout-nose.
Their head is narrow, their hair is short, their ears are round and small. There is a white rim on the edge of the inside of the ears. Nosukha is the owner of a very long tail, which is almost constantly in vertical position. The animal uses its tail to balance itself when moving. The characteristic color of the tail is alternating light yellow, brown and black rings.
The color of the nose is varied: from orange to dark brown. The muzzle is usually uniform black or brown colors. There are light spots on the face, below and above the eyes. The neck is yellowish, the paws are black or dark brown.
the catch is elongated, the paws are strong with five fingers and non-retractable claws. The nose digs the ground with its claws, obtaining food. The hind legs are longer than the front legs. The length of the body from the nose to the tip of the tail is 80-130 cm, the length of the tail itself is 32-69 cm. The height at the withers is about 20-29 cm. They weigh about 3-5 kg. Males are almost twice as large as females.
Nosukhi live on average 7-8 years, but in captivity they can live up to 14 years. They live in tropical and subtropical forests South America and southern USA. Their favorite place These are dense bushes, low-lying forests, rocky terrain. Due to human intervention, Lately noses prefer forest edges and clearings.
They say that nosuhs used to be called simply badgers, but since real badgers moved to Mexico, the true homeland of nosuhs, this species received its own individual name.
All noses, including coatis, are predators! Coatis get food for themselves with their noses, diligently sniffling and groaning, they inflate the foliage in this way and look for termites, ants, scorpions, beetles, and larvae under it. Sometimes it can also feed on land crabs, frogs, lizards, and rodents. During the hunt, the coati clamps its prey with its paws and bites its head. In difficult times of hunger, the Nosukhi allow themselves vegetarian cuisine; they eat ripe fruits, which, as a rule, are always in abundance in the forest. Moreover, they do not make reserves, but return to the tree from time to time.
Nosuhs live both in groups and alone. In groups there are 5-6 individuals, sometimes their number reaches 40. In groups there are only females and young males. Adult males live alone. The reason for this is their aggressive attitude towards children. They are expelled from the group and return only to mate.Males usually lead a solitary lifestyle and only during the mating season do they join family groups of females with young ones. During the mating season, which is usually from October to March, one male is accepted into the group of females and young ones. All mature females living in the group mate with this male, and soon after mating he leaves the group.
As soon as young males turn two years old, they leave the group and subsequently lead a solitary lifestyle, females remain in the group.
Nosukha gives birth to cubs once a year. Usually there are 2-6 cubs in a litter. Newborns weigh 100-180 grams and are completely dependent on the mother, who leaves the nest for a while to find food. The eyes open at approximately 11 days. The babies remain in the nest for several weeks, and then leave it with their mother and join the family group.
Lactation lasts up to four months. Young noses stay with their mother until she begins to prepare for the birth of the next offspring.
Red Lynx is the most common wild cat on the North American continent. In general appearance, this is a typical lynx, but it is almost twice as small as an ordinary lynx and is not so long-legged and wide-legged. Its body length is 60-80 cm, height at the withers is 30-35 cm, weight is 6-11 kg. You can recognize a red lynx by its white
You can meet the red lynx in dense subtropical forests or in desert areas among prickly cacti, on high mountain slopes or in swampy lowlands. The presence of humans does not prevent it from appearing on the outskirts of villages or small towns. This predator chooses areas where it can feast on small rodents, nimble squirrels or timid rabbits and even prickly porcupines.
Although the bobcat is a good tree climber, it only climbs trees in search of food and shelter. It hunts at dusk; only young animals go hunting during the day.Vision and hearing are well developed. Hunts on the ground, sneaking up on prey. The lynx holds its prey with its sharp claws and kills it with a bite to the base of the skull. In one sitting, an adult animal eats up to 1.4 kg of meat. He hides the remaining surplus and returns to it the next day.For rest, the red lynx chooses a new place every day, without lingering in the old one. This could be a crack in the rocks, a cave, a hollow log, a space under a fallen tree, etc. On the ground or snow, the red lynx takes a step approximately 25 - 35 cm long; The size of an individual footprint is approximately 4.5 x 4.5 cm. When walking, they place their hind paws exactly in the tracks left by their front paws. Thanks to this, they never make very loud noise from the crackling of dry twigs under their feet. Soft pillows on their legs help them calmly sneak up to the animal at close range. Bobcats are good tree climbers and can also swim across a small body of water, but they only do this on rare occasions.
The red lynx is a territorial animal. The lynx marks the boundaries of the site and its paths with urine and feces. In addition, she leaves marks of her claws on trees. The male learns that the female is ready to mate by the smell of her urine. A mother with cubs is very aggressive towards any animal or person that threatens her kittens.
IN wildlife males and females love solitude, meeting only during the breeding season. The only time when individuals of different sexes look for meetings is during the mating season, which occurs at the end of winter - the beginning of spring. The male mates with all the females that are in the same area with him. The female's pregnancy lasts only 52 days. Cubs are born in the spring, blind and helpless. At this time, the female tolerates the male only not far from the den. After about a week, the babies' eyes open slightly, but for another eight weeks they remain with their mother and are fed with her milk. The mother licks their fur and warms them with her body. The female red lynx is a very caring mother. In case of danger, she moves the kittens to another shelter.
A male bobcat often occupies an area of 100 km2, and border areas may be shared by several males. The female's area is half the size. Within the territory of one male, 2-3 females usually live. A male red lynx, whose territory is often home to three females and cubs, must provide food for 12 kittens.
Among almost two and a half thousand species higher plants, found in the flora of the Sonoran Desert, the most widely represented species are from the family Asteraceae, legumes, cereals, buckwheat, euphorbia, cactus and borage. A number of communities characteristic of the main habitats make up the vegetation of the Sonoran Desert.
The extensive, slightly sloping alluvial fans support vegetation, the main components of which are clumps of creosote bush and ragweed. They also include several types of prickly pear, quinoa, acacia, fuqueria, or ocotillo.
On alluvial plains Below the fans, the vegetation cover mainly consists of a sparse forest of mesquite trees. Their roots, penetrating into the depths, reach groundwater, and roots located in the surface layer of soil, within a radius of up to twenty meters from the trunk, can intercept precipitation. A mature mesquite tree reaches a height of eighteen meters and can be more than a meter wide. In our time, only the pitiful remnants of the once majestic mesquite forests remain, long cut down for fuel. The mesquite forest is very similar to the black saxaul thickets in the Karakum Desert. The forest composition, in addition to mesquite, includes clematis and acacia.
Near the water, along the banks of rivers, near the water, there are poplars, with ash and Mexican elder mixed in with them. Plants such as acacia, creosote bush and celtis grow in the beds of arroyos, drying up temporary streams, as well as in the adjacent plains. In the Gran Desierto Desert, near the Gulf of California coast, ragweed and creosote bush dominate the sandy plains, while ephedra and tobosa, ragweed, grow on the sand dunes.
Trees here grow only on large dry riverbeds. The mountains are mainly inhabited by cacti and xerophilous shrubs, but the cover is very sparse. The saguaro is quite rare (and completely absent in California) and its distribution here is again limited to riverbeds. Annuals (mostly winter ones) make up almost half of the flora, and in the driest areas up to 90% species composition: They appear in huge numbers only in wet years.
In the Arizona Highlands, northwest of the Sonoran Desert, the vegetation is especially colorful and varied. The denser vegetation cover and diversity of vegetation is due to more precipitation here than in other areas of Sonora, as well as the ruggedness of the terrain, a combination of steep slopes of different exposures and hills. A peculiar cactus forest, in which the main place is occupied by the giant columnar saguaro cactus, with a low-growing encelia shrub located between the cacti, is formed on gravelly soils with big amount fine earth. Also among the vegetation there are large barrel-shaped ferocactus, ocotillo, paloverde, several types of prickly pear, acacia, celtis, creosote bush, as well as mesquite tree, in the floodplains.
The trees and shrubs of the Sonoran Desert that attract attention with their unique appearance include ivory tree, ironwood and idria, or buium, growing only in two areas of the Sonoran Desert, located in Mexico, which is part of the region of Latin America.
The Vizcaino region is located in the central third of the California Peninsula. There is little precipitation, but the air is cool, as humid sea breezes often bring fogs, weakening the aridity of the climate. Rain falls mainly in winter and averages less than 125 mm. Here in the flora there are some very unusual plants, bizarre landscapes are characteristic: fields of white granite boulders, cliffs of black lava, etc. Interesting plants are bujamas, an ivory tree, a 30 m high cordon, a throttle ficus growing on the rocks and a blue palm. In contrast to the main Vizcaino Desert, the Vizcaino Coastal Plain is a flat, cool, foggy desert with 0.3 m tall shrubs and fields of annuals.
District Magdalena is located south of Vizcaino on the California Peninsula and is similar in appearance to Vizcaino, but the flora is slightly different. Most of the meager rainfall occurs in the summer, when the Pacific breeze blows from the sea. The only noticeable plant on the pale Magdalena Plain is the creeping devil's cactus (Stenocereus eruca), but away from the coast on the rocky slopes the vegetation is quite dense and consists of trees, shrubs and cacti.
Riverine communities are usually isolated ribbons or islands of deciduous forest along temporary streams. There are very few permanent or dry watercourses (the largest is the Colorado River), but there are many where water appears only a couple of days or even a few hours a year. Dry beds, or "washes", of arroyos - "arroyos" - are places where many trees and shrubs are concentrated. Xerophilic open forests along dry riverbeds are highly variable. Almost pure mesquite forest occurs along some ephemeral streams, others may be dominated by blue paloverde or ironwood, or forest develops mixed type. Characteristic is the so-called "desert willow", which is actually a catalpa.
Order - Carnivora (Carnivora)
Family – Felidae
Red lynx (Lynx rufus)
Appearance:
Outwardly, it is a typical lynx, but smaller: half the size of an ordinary lynx, not so long-legged and wide-legged, since it does not need to walk in deep snow, but with a shorter tail. Its body length is 60-80 cm, height at the withers is 30-35 cm, weight is 6-11 kg. The general color tone is reddish-brown with a gray tint. Unlike other lynxes (such as the Canada lynx or the common lynx), the bobcat has a white marking on the inside of the tip of its tail, while other lynxes have a completely black mark. Southern subspecies have more black markings than northern ones. There are individuals completely black (melanists) and white (albinos), the former only in Florida.
Habitat:
The bobcat is found from extreme southern Canada to central Mexico and from the east to west coasts of the United States.
Lifestyle:
The red lynx is found both in subtropical forests and in arid desert areas, in swampy lowlands, coniferous and deciduous forests and even in the cultural landscape and surroundings of large cities. Leads an earthly twilight lifestyle. It goes hunting in the evening and early in the morning. In winter it is also found during daylight hours. The red lynx has favorite resting places and trails that it constantly uses. It climbs trees well, but climbs them only in search of food and shelter. Able to jump over high obstacles. Vision and hearing are well developed. Hunts on the ground, sneaking up on prey. The lynx holds its prey with its sharp claws and kills it with a bite to the base of the skull. At one time, an adult animal eats up to 1.4 kg of meat. He hides the remaining surplus and returns to it the next day. When walking, the red lynx places its hind paws exactly in the tracks left by its front paws. Soft pads on the legs help to quietly sneak up to prey at close range.
Nutrition:
The main food of the red lynx is the American rabbit. It also feeds on snakes, mice, rats, gophers and porcupines. Sometimes it attacks birds (wild turkeys, domestic chickens) and even white-tailed deer. Occasionally - on small domestic animals.
Reproduction:
A female can have up to two litters per year (in spring and late summer).
The female makes a den for her kittens in caves, piles of stones or in the cavities of trees. There is evidence that both parents are involved in raising offspring. Breeding season is February-June. Puberty occurs in females at one year, in males at two years. Pregnancy lasts 50-70 days. There are up to 6 blind kittens in a litter (usually 2-4). The weight of newborns is up to 340 g. On the 10th day, the eyes open. Lactation lasts up to 8 weeks. Kittens gain 25 g in weight per day. From 3 to 5 months. kittens go hunting with their mother. At 9 months of age, they are completely independent and acquire their own hunting area.
Our pets:
The red lynx Lapa was born in 2011 at the Novosibirsk Zoo. Red lynxes are half the size of their Siberian counterparts. But despite their miniature appearance, they are aggressive, capricious and excellent hunters.
The bobcat, or red lynx, is a predatory animal that lives in North America. Some may know it as a bobcat. Despite its modest size, the red lynx is the largest predatory cat in its habitat. For many years now it has presented a mystery to zoologists. It is not easy to see and track it, although the lynx is not afraid of humans. That is why any piece of information obtained about her is valuable.
general description
The bobcat is a relative of the common lynx, but is half the size. Body length rarely reaches 90 cm, and weight ranges from 6 to 16 kg. Among individuals of this species, representatives with a weight of approximately 10 kg are most often found.
Its fur is brownish-red in color with a large amount of pigment (because of this, the red lynx is sometimes called red). Dark spots are scattered throughout the fur, helping the animal camouflage against the background of foliage and tall grass. In Florida, there are individuals with an exclusively black color. There are also known cases of albinism among lynxes. The tail is quite short relative to the body and is 15 cm. There is a white mark on it, by which the bobcat can be distinguished from other related species.
The uniqueness of this type of lynx is that it does not have tufts on its ears. However, there are small dark panicles at their tips. It is they that make it possible to distinguish it from the sand cat, whose appearance has much in common with the appearance of the bobcat. The muzzle of a lynx is strikingly reminiscent of the muzzle of a domestic cat, with the difference that in a wild animal it is much larger, and there are woolen outgrowths on both sides. The pupil is elongated, the eye color is yellow. The red lynx has a rather massive and wide nose, on both sides of which the fur is light in color.The body of the red lynx is very strong and lean. Prey caught in these developed paws has no chance of getting back out, and the structure of the limbs allows the bobcat to make jumps 5 m long, overtaking the pursued target in no time.
Spreading
The habitat of this animal is entirely located on the American continent, which is a rather atypical phenomenon. The red lynx lives in the USA, in the South and West of Canada, near southern Mexico. Despite their fairly widespread distribution, these cats are endangered due to uncontrolled extermination by humans.
Lifestyle
The bobcat's preferences in choosing housing are quite varied. The animal can settle both in arid areas and in swampy lowlands or forest thickets. Some individuals settle near human habitation and spend their entire lives among the cultural landscape (conditions created by humans). Despite the fact that these animals have perfectly mastered climbing trees, they do not use them for permanent habitat, preferring to move up in case of danger or heat. They also swim quite rarely, preferring to do so only in the summer in order to cool down.
Although the red lynx occupies a dominant position in size, it is not the main predator of the continent and has natural enemies. These include the Canadian lynx, puma and jaguar, a meeting with which can result in death for a bobcat.
The basis of the red lynx's diet is food of animal origin. She enjoys hunting rabbits, mice, porcupines and gophers. Sometimes a bobcat is strong enough to defeat a white-tailed deer or livestock, but such cases occur extremely rarely. The red lynx moves out to find prey at dusk. However, in northern latitudes There is less opportunity for her to obtain high-calorie food, so the bobcat uses any time of day to hunt if potential food is nearby.
After eating, the animal prefers to rest. If there is anything left from the meal, she carefully hides the traces of the recent feast. Like some other species of big cats, the bobcat is capable of hiding food on tree branches.
For the red lynx, an important task is to protect the territory, for which the males scratch trees and make marks with urine. One animal can occupy an area of 100 sq. km, and this is far from the limit. Females occupy approximately 50 square meters. km and defend their possessions as fiercely as the males. Several males can divide the border territory and provide their habitat for 3 females. Animals use the smell of urine to demonstrate their readiness to mate.
Reproduction
The breeding season begins with the first warm days spring. Female red lynx carry a fetus for 53 days, after which a litter of several blind kittens is born. Babies begin to see the light on days 7-9, after which they feed on mother’s milk for another 2 months. The milk of a female bobcat is very fatty and thick, it contains a high concentration of nutrients. Bobcats treat kittens with care, constantly licking them. The female is always ready to take care of the offspring and, in case of danger, will move small predators to a new shelter.
Throughout the entire time, the male feeds all the females living on his territory. He will give them part of the spoils, even if he himself goes hungry. It's pretty unique phenomenon, which is rare among other representatives of the animal world. For some time, the female does not allow the male to approach the hole, preferring to take food in neutral territory. But when the kittens grow up a little and get stronger, the male is allowed to bring food directly to the shelter and leave the meat for the cubs to feed.
Raising growing lynxes is important element female life. When the cubs reach the age of several months, she leaves the hole with them and begins to walk them in her own territory, teaching them the basics of hunting and protection from natural enemies. At about six months, the kittens already go out for their first prey, which takes place under the strict control of the mother. This develops their endurance, providing physical exercise. Throughout the entire period of growing up, kittens play with each other, which is also an important component of their physical development.
Hunting
The red lynx does not hunt in a pack, preferring to do this activity alone. Interesting feature bobcat and other lynxes are that they can ambush and wait in hiding for an unsuspecting prey. The lynx always kills its prey in the same way: first it gnaws the carotid artery and then breaks the neck. The spontaneity of the attack allows her to hunt animals that are significantly larger than her.
Threat of extinction
The skin of a red lynx is a valuable trophy, fetching several thousand dollars on the black market. And the lynx’s secretiveness and fearlessness in front of humans only adds excitement to poachers. Another reason why this species is hunted is the damage bobcats cause to farms. They attack birds and small animals, which is why farmers, at the first opportunity, try to eliminate the animal that has gotten into the habit of visiting their lands.
At the moment, the red lynx is listed in the Red Book as a species that is threatened with complete extermination. Attempts are being made to restore the bobcat population and reproduce the individuals present in zoos, but so far these efforts have not brought much results.
- The lynx develops the same speed in water as a person, and can also dive for a short time.
- IN early age The red lynx lends itself well to training and taming, so the kitten has every chance of becoming a full-fledged pet, which is kept outside the cage.
- The average lifespan of a bobcat in the wild is 18 years, in captivity – 30 years.
- Individuals of red lynx living in northern latitudes (for example, in Canada) are noticeably larger than their southern counterparts.
- In the first year of growing up, kittens gain an average of 25 grams of weight per day.
- When jumping and walking, the red lynx places its hind legs exactly in the place where its forelimbs were located a second ago. Despite the ability to develop high speeds of movement, the lynx will not be able to pursue prey for a long time. If it was not possible to grab the victim in the first 30 seconds, then it will most likely leave it alone.
Video: Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
Which is native to North America. There are currently 13 subspecies of red lynx.
Description
The bobcat is almost twice as big domestic cat. Body length ranges from 65 to 105 cm. The tail adds an additional 11 to 19 cm to the total length of the animal. The height at the withers is 45-58 cm. Adult lynxes weigh 4-15 kg. The red lynx has long and massive legs. The species can be easily identified by the tufts on the ears and whiskers on the "cheeks". Sexual dimorphism is noticeably pronounced, females are smaller than males.
The coat is brown or brown-red in color. The lower part of the body is white, and the ear tufts, spots and stripes are black. Unlike other species (, and), which have a black tip of the tail, the red lynx has a black and white tip. In winter, the animal's fur turns gray.
Area
The red lynx is found throughout North America, from southern Canada to southern Mexico. In the United States, population densities in the southeast are significantly higher than in the west.
Habitat
The red lynx can be found in the most different environments habitats including subtropical forests, arid semi-deserts, mountains, lowland wetlands and shrubs. Sometimes they are found in the suburbs of large cities. Lynxes sleep in hidden dens, hollow trees, thickets or rock crevices. The species is highly adaptive and can adapt to various conditions. The red lynx is good at climbing trees and climbing them for shelter from threats and in search of food. Bobcats prefer areas with minimal snow, as their paws are not designed to move through deep snow.
Reproduction
The reproduction system is polygynous. Males and females interact for the short time required for courtship and copulation. Mating occurs in early spring, although timing is variable. Pregnancy lasts 60-70 days, resulting in the birth of about 3 kittens. The cubs open their eyes when they are 10 days old. Breastfeeding lasts about 2 months. Then, the females bring meat to their offspring and teach them everything. At the age of about 8 months, lynx cubs become independent. Males do not take part in raising the young.
Sexual maturity in females occurs at the age of one year, and in males at 2 years.
Lifespan
Bobcats live up to 12 years in the wild. In captivity they can live up to 32 years.
Nutrition
Red lynxes are strictly carnivores. Their diet consists of: rabbits, birds, rodents and small game (although they are capable of killing prey larger than themselves). There have been known cases of lynxes hunting domestic animals - cats and dogs. Bobcats are silent hunters, using sight and hearing to stalk their prey. These predators wait for their prey and then suddenly pounce on it, grab it by the neck and deliver a fatal bite. If the lynx does not eat the prey immediately, it will hide the leftovers to eat later.
Behavior
Although lynxes are typically most active at dusk and dawn, in some parts of their range they are more active night image life, while in other areas, during the period of winter food shortage, red lynxes are active during the day. The lynx is capable of capturing prey 10 times heavier than its own body.
Like most other cats, the lynx prefers a solitary lifestyle, with the exception of the breeding season. The size of the home range depends on habitat and food supply, and ranges from 6-325 square kilometers. Males and females mark the boundaries of their territories through markings using feces, urine and scratching. The home ranges of males may overlap those of several females and even males.
Communication and perception
Bobcats mark their territories to repel intruders. They make various sounds when communicating with each other during the breeding season. Like all cats, lynxes have excellent vision and hearing, and a well-developed sense of smell.
Threats
Adults face several threats in their habitat other than humans. Natural enemies include coyotes, wolves and cougars. Their young become prey for large owls, coyotes and foxes.
Disease, accidents, poaching and starvation are other significant causes of red lynx mortality. Juveniles experience high mortality rates soon after leaving their mothers. Cannibalism is present when food is scarce, but it a rare event and does not significantly affect the population.
Red lynxes regulate the numbers of many species of mammals and birds.
Economic significance for humans
Positive
In the past, lynxes were hunted for their valuable skins. However, thanks to good control of the trade process, this is not the reason for the extinction of animals.
Negative
Lynx sometimes eat small domestic animals, leading to efforts to eradicate them in some regions. In the southeastern United States, bobcats are becoming increasingly accustomed to urban and suburban environments, although their reclusive nature ensures that the animals remain remote.
Security status
The bobcat is listed on Appendix II of CITES. Mexican subspecies ( Lynx rufus escuinapae) is listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This subspecies is limited to central Mexico.
There are probably nearly one million bobcats living in the United States. In some areas they are quite rare animals, while in others they have stable and sometimes large populations. Therefore, some states have introduced regulated hunting, while others have prohibited it.
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