The Carpathian lynx (Lynx lynx carpathicus) is a subspecies of the Eurasian lynx found in the Carpathian Basin. It was once common throughout Europe but is now extinct in some areas.
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CrepuscularCrepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during twilight (that is, the periods of dawn and dusk). This is distinguished from diurnal...
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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ViviparousAmong animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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Ambush predatorAmbush predators are carnivorous animals that capture or trap prey by stealth, luring, or by (typically instinctive) strategies utilizing an elemen...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
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PolygynyPolygyny is a mating system in which one male lives and mates with multiple females but each female only mates with a single male.
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withCarpathian lynxes are quite large compared to other cat species. They have long legs, large paws, bob tails, cheek hair forming a facial ruff, and tall ears with noticeable black tufts. Like other lynx subspecies, Carpathian lynxes have big, furry paws which hit the ground with a spreading toe movement, allowing them to walk above the snow. Their thick fur protects them from cold during winter. They have soft fur, which has denser amounts of spots than other lynx subspecies. Individual Carpathian lynxes also have different patterns of spots.
Carpathian lynxes are found in the Carpathian mountain ranges of Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, and Bulgaria where they inhabit deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forests.
Carpathian lynxes are solitary animals and try to avoid humans; they come together only to breed. They are not fast runners compared to other cat species and instead rely on ambush attacks to kill their prey. Like other Eurasian lynxes, they are nocturnal or crepuscular and spend the day sleeping in dense thickets or other places of concealment. However, they may hunt during the day when food is scarce. Adult lynxes typically have hunting areas that can be anything from 20 to 450 km2 (7.7 to 173.7 sq mi), depending on the local availability of prey. Males tend to hunt over much larger areas than females, which tend to occupy exclusive, rather than overlapping, hunting ranges. Eurasian lynxes can travel up to 20 km (12 mi) during one night looking for prey. They patrol regularly throughout all parts of their hunting range, using scent marks to indicate their presence to other individuals. They often climb onto high rocks or fallen trees to scan the surrounding area. Eurasian lynxes are generally silent outside of the breeding season. They have been observed to mew, hiss, growl, and purr, and, like domestic cats, will "chatter" at prey that is just out of reach. Mating calls are much louder, consisting of deep growls in the male, and loud "meow-like" sounds in the female. Eurasian lynxes are secretive, and because the sounds they make are very quiet and seldom heard, their presence in an area may go unnoticed for years.
Carpathian lynxes are carnivorous and prey on deer, wild goats, and sheep. In times of scarcity, they may feed on smaller animals, such as hares, rabbits, grouse, foxes, and rodents.
Carpathian lynxes are polygynous and don’t form pairs. They have a gestation period of 63-74 days. Their litters have 1 to 4 kittens, who weigh 240 to 430 grams (8.5 to 15 oz) at birth and are born blind. The female raises the kittens by herself, and the male does not play a part in their parenting. The kittens remain with their mother for 10 months.
The main threats to Carpathian lynxes include poaching and increasing landscape fragmentation in the Western Carpathians. In addition, due to reintroduction in the 1970s, there is an endangered population in the territories of Croatia, Slovenia, and Bosnia. Its main habitat, the Carpathian Mountains, is a popular eco-tourist destination. Another concern is illegal logging which is widespread in the area as well, due to the existing laws not having enough funding to be enforced.
According to IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Carpathian lynx is around 2,000 individuals. In Ukraine, its population in the Carpathian region consists of 350-400 individuals, and the one in the Polysya region in the north of the country consists of 80-100 animals. In Ukraine, the lynx population is considered to be decreasing.
