Lynx (Felis) rufus
SUBFAMILY
Felinae
TAXONOMY
Felis rufa (Schreber, 1776), New York State.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Lynx rous; German: Rotluchs, Luchskatz; Spanish: Lince, lince rojo, gato montés.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Length 24–42 in (62–106 cm); tail 5–8 in (13–20 cm); weight 13–37 lb (6–17 kg). Heavily built with short tail. Light gray to reddish brown coat barred and spotted with black, white belly, black tip to tail. Ruff around face. Ears with short tufts.
DISTRIBUTION
Southern Canada to northern Mexico, mainly United States.
HABITAT
Varied. Rocky scree, broken terrain, conifer and mixed forest, thickets, swamps, and desert scrub.
BEHAVIOR
Active day and night, but peak activity at dusk and dawn. Males home range 0.25–130 mi2 (0.6–326 km2), typically overlapping smaller ranges of several females. Density 1–38 adults per 10 mi2 (25 km2).
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Rabbits and hares, rodents, deer, and large birds.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Polygamous. Gestation 50–70 days, litter one to eight (usually two to three). Birth peaks in April–May. Females generally breed from second year, males from 18 months. Kittens independent from one year.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not listed by the IUCN. Populations generally healthy, but some concern over sustainability of heavy trapping.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
In recent years the most heavily trapped and traded of cat species. Demand for fur rose in the 1960s and 1970s, especially after CITES restricted trade in other cat furs. Over 90,000 cats were killed annually at the peak, but trade is now declining due to lower demand and a European Community ban on import of furs caught by leghold traps. Bobcats occasionally raid poultry, but are not generally treated as pests, except in Mexico, where they kill sheep.
| Common name / Scientific name / Other common names | Physical characteristics | Habitat and behavior | Distribution | Diet | Conservation status |
| Bay cat Catopuma badia English: Bornean bay cat; Spanish: Gato de Borneo | May occur in two different colors: chestnut red or gray. Dark, rounded ears, whitish stripe running down ventral side of body. Head and body length 20.9–27.6 in (53– 70 cm), weight 6.6–11 lb (3–5 kg). | Dense primary forests and areas of rocky limestone. Also seen in highland areas and near rivers. Nocturnal. | Borneo. | Includes small rodents and birds, carrion, and even monkeys. | Endangered |
| Asiatic golden cat Catopuma temminckii Spanish: Gato dorado asiático | Coloration is dense, coarse, from golden brown, to red, to grayish brown. Underparts are white. Patter of black and white streaks marking face. Head and body length 28.7–41.3 in (73– 105 cm), tail length 16.9–22 lb (43–56 cm). | Dry deciduous forests, tropical rainforests, and occasionally open habitats with rocky areas. Predominantly nocturnal, usually terrestrial, but capable of climbing trees. Litters of one to two offspring. | Southeast Asia, from as far north as southern China, west to Nepal, east of Fukien in China, and south to Sumatra. | Carnivorous. Diet consists of wild hares, small deer, birds, lizards, and other small animals. They have been known to kill sheep, goats, and buffalo calves. | Not threatened |
| Chinese desert cat Felis bieti Spanish: Gato del desierto chino | Coloration is yellowish gray in summer and darker brown in winter. Horizontal stripes on sides of body and legs, brown streaks across each cheek. Tail striped with 5–6 gray bands, black tip. Yellowish brown ears, tips specked with long hairs. Head and body length 26.8–33.1 in (68–84 cm), tail length 11.4–13.8 in (29–35 cm). | Datong and Daban mountains around Xining, at elevations ranging from 9,190 to 13,450 ft (2,800–4,100 m). Preferred habitat is mountainous areas where cover is available, usually in the form of sparse trees and shrubs. Typically occupy alpine meadows and scrub, although they may occur marginally in deserts. Primarily nocturnal, not social, travel in packs. Males and females live separately. | Southern Mongolia, central China. | Rodents, such as mole-rats, pikas, and white-tailed voles. They also have been known to catch birds, including pheasants. | Vulnerable |
| Jungle cat Felis chaus English: Swamp lynx; Spanish: Gato selvático | Coloration is sandy gray to tawny brown, no distinctive markings. Tail has several dark rings, tipped in black. Head and body length 19.7–29.5 in (50–75 cm), tail length 9.8–11.4 in (25–29 cm). | Wide variety of habitats, typically wet grasslands and reed thickets near stagnant or slowly flowing water. Solitary animals, active day and night. Competitors include leopards, wolves, red dogs, and hyenas. | Volga River Delta and Egypt to Sinkiang and Indochina, Sri Lanka. | Hares and other small mammals, ground birds, snakes, lizards, and frogs. | Not threatened |
| Sand cat Felis margarita Spanish: Gato del desierto | Coloration is pale sandy to gray straw in color. Back is darker, belly is white. Two reddish streaks on face. Tail has two or three rings and black tip. Head and body length 17.7–22.5 in (45–57.2 cm), tail length 11–13.7 in (28–34.8 cm). | Desert biome, which include extremely arid conditions, especially involving loose soil (sand dunes). Two to four young per litter, no more than two litters annually. Solitary and nocturnal. | Desert zones from Morocco and northern Niger to Soviet central Asia and Pakistan. | Prey on rodents, hares, birds, and reptiles. | Lower Risk/Near Threatened |
| Black-footed cat Felis nigripes Spanish: Gato de patas negras | Coloration from dark ochre to pale ochre, covered with bold pattern of round dark brown to black spots, two stripes on each cheek, stripes on forelegs. Closely resembles house cat in shape. Average male length 16.7–19.7 in (42.5–50 cm), female 13.3–14.5 in (33.7–36.8 cm), average weight 2.2–4.4 lb (1–2 kg). | Dry country of South Africa. Solitary, nocturnal, strong territorial system. One to three kittens born per litter. | Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa. | Mainly small prey, including various rodents, spiders, insects, and birds. | Vulnerable |
| Jaguarundi Herpailurus yaguarondi Spanish: Yaguarundí | Two color morphologies; 1. Coloration is gray, except for two white spots beside nose on upper life, and possibly some white on belly; 2. Coloration is reddish brown, except for white on throat and lips. Short legs, long body, long tail. Head and body length 23.6–27.6 in (60–70 cm), tail length 11.8–23.6 in (30–60 cm), weight 8.8–19.8 lb (4–9 kg). | Lives near water, sleeps in natural dens under banks, in tall grasses, or in caves. Reproduce year round, producing typically two to three offspring per litter. Solitary, except when mating or raising young. Usually nocturnal, but can be diurnal. | Southern Arizona and southern Texas, United States, to northern Argentina. | Prey on many different animals, including frogs, rabbits, small deer, insects, reptiles, and fish; birds are its prey of choice. Willing to enter water to catch fish. | Not threatened |
| Common name / Scientific name / Other common names | Physical characteristics | Habitat and behavior | Distribution | Diet | Conservation status |
| Little spotted cat Leopardus tigrinus English: Tiger ocelot; Spanish: Tigrillo | Coloration of upperparts is light to rich ochre with rows of large, dark spots. Underparts paler and less spotted. Tail has 10 to 11 rings and black tip. Head and body length 15.7–21.7 in (40–55 cm), tail length 9.8–15.7 in (25–40 cm). | Forests. Habits in wild are not known. One or two young per litter. | Costa Rica to northern Argentina. | Usually consumes small rodents, frogs, rabbits, and birds of choice. | Lower Risk/Near Threatened |
| Margay Leopardus wiedii Spanish: Gato tigre | Coloration tan, from grayish to cinnamon. Underparts are white. Dark brown spots for longitudinal rows. Petite, small, and slender. Head and body length 18.2–31.1 in (46.3–79 cm), tail length 13–20.1 in (33.1–51 cm), weight 5.7–8.6 lb (2.6– 3.9 kg). | Tropical and subtropical forests. Active during day and night. Asocial, with temporary pair bonds formed during the breeding season. Home range size 5.8–16.6 mi2 (15–43 km 2). | Northern Mexico and possibly southern Texas, United States, to northern Argentina and Uruguay. | Terrestrial and arboreal mammals, birds and their eggs, amphibians, reptiles, arthropods, and fruit. | Not threatened |
| Pampas cat Oncifelis colocolo | Coloration ranges from yellowish white and grayish yellow to brown, gray brown, silvery gray, and light gray. Bands of yellow or brown run from back to flanks. Two bars run from eyes to cheeks. Coat is long, tail is bushy, face is broad, ears are pointed. Head and body length 22.3– 27.6 in (56.7–70 cm), tail length 11.6– 12.7 in (29.5–32.2 cm). | Open grassland in some areas, but also humid forests and mountainous regions. Nocturnal. Litters contain one to three young. | Ecuador and Mato Grosso region of Brazil to central Chile and Patagonia. | Mainly small mammals, especially guinea pigs and ground birds. | Lower Risk/Near Threatened |
| Andean cat Oreailurus jacobita Spanish: Colocolo | Coat is soft, fine, silvery gray with irregular brown or orange yellow spots and transverse stripes. Underparts are white and have black spots. Bushy tail, ringed with black to brown, lightly tipped. Head and body length 23.6 in (60 cm), tail length 13.8 in (35 cm). | Arid and semiarid zone of Andes at elevations up to 16,400 ft (5,000 m). Nothing is known about the reproductive or social behavior of this species. They are most likely solitary. | The Andes of southern Peru, southwestern Bolivia, northeastern Chile, and northwestern Argentina. | Small mammals, such as chinchillas and viscachas. | Endangered |
| Pallas's cat Otocolobus manul Spanish: Gato de Pallas | Coloration is from light gray to yellowish buff and russet, frosted appearance. Two dark streaks across each side of head, four rings on dark-tipped tail. Long, dense coat. Massive body, short legs, short, broad head. Head and body length 19.7–25.6 in (50–65 cm), tail length 8.3–12.2 in (21–31 cm), weight 5.5–7.7 lb (2.5–3.5 kg). | Steppes, deserts, and rocky country up to elevations over 13,120 ft (4,000 m). Usually nocturnal, but can be diurnal. Dens in caves, crevices, or burrows dug by other animals. Five to six young per litter. | Caspian Sea and Iran to southeastern Siberia and Tibet. | Pikas and other small mammals. | Lower Risk/Near Threatened |
| Leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis Spanish: Gato de bengala | Upperparts pale tawny, underparts white. Body and tail covered with dark spots, tail is ringed toward tip, head is small, muzzle is short, ears are long and rounded. Head and body length 17.5–42.1 in (44.5–107 cm), tail length 9.1–17.3 in (23–44 cm), weight 6.6–15.4 lb (3–7 kg). | Many kinds of forested habitat at both high and low elevations. Mainly nocturnal, but often seen during the day. One to four offspring per litter. | Ussuri region of south-eastern Siberia, Manchuria, Korea, Quelpart and Tsushima Islands (between Korea and Japan), eastern China, Taiwan, Hainan, Pakistan to Indochina and Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Bali, Borneo, and several islands in the western and central Philippines. | Hares, rodents, young deer, birds, reptiles, and fish. | Not threatened |
| African golden cat Profelis aurata Spanish: Gato dorado africano | Coloration ranges form chestnut to fox red, fawn gray brown, silver gray, and blue gray to dark slaty. Underparts are white. Body covered with dark brown or dark gray dots, may vary. Long legs, small head, large paws. Head and body length 24.3–40 in (61.6–101.6 cm), tail length 6.3–18.1 in (16–46 cm), weight 2.1–6.3 lb (5.3–16 kg). | Deciduous forests, tropical rainforests, and more open habitats at times. Usually terrestrial, no confirmed breeding season, one or two offspring per litter. | Senegal to Kenya and northern Angola. | Hares, small deer, birds, lizards, and domestic livestock. | Vulnerable |
