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Iberian
. Lynx

Iberian Lynx
Scientific Name

Taxonomy
Lynx
pardinus

Kingdom
Animalia
Physical Description
The Iberian lynx is heavily spotted and weighs
Phylum
Chordata
about
half as much as the
Eurasian species,
muscular body with long legs and bobbed,
Mammalia
blackClass
tip tail. Its relatively
short coat is tawny
with dark spots and it bears a characteristic
Order
beard
around its faceCarnivora
and prominent black
ear tufts.

Family

Felidae

Size

The IberianLynx
lynx
Genus
Head-body length: 65cm - 100cm

The worlds most threatened species of

Shoulder
height: 40cm
- 50cm
cat,
and
is currently
teetering
on the
Species
L.
Pardinus
Tail
length:
5cm - 19cm
brink
of extinction

Biology and Habitat

Iberian lynx are generally nocturnal creatures,
solitary and territorial. Male territories may
overlapped with several females. Female
reach sexual maturity at 1 year of age but
breed when they are in possession of their
own territory.

Habitat
The Iberian lynx is found in
Breeding

Mediterranean woodland and marquis

Female lynxes generally give birth between
habitat (a scrub-like habitat of open
March and April. The average litter size is 3,
forest and thickets), where there is a
with rarely more than 2 young surviving
mixture of dense scrub and open
weaning. Kitten are independent between 8
pasture.
and 23 months.

Range
Diet

Portugal, Spain.
The Iberian lynx mostly depends on wild
rabbits to feed, but it will also eat ducks,

Decreasing
food base
Threats

Rabbits form the main prey of Iberian lynx.

Decrease of rabbits populations due to
epidemics has in turn affected the Iberian
lynx population

Habitat loss and degradation

Infrastructure and other human activities
contribute to the loss and fragmentation of
the Iberian lynx distribution area, creating
barriers between the different populations.

Hunting
the species has been regarded both as an
attractive hunting trophy and as a vermin.
Hunter prized its valuable fur and meat.
Eventhough the hunting was legally banned,
the species are still the victims of guns traps
and snares, particularly set for other animals.

Car hits
Due to the expanding road network, Iberian
lynx are also the victims to car hits on the

Conservation
Conservation measure of the Iberian
lynx include:
1. Protecting the remaining habitat in both
Spain and Portugal.
2. Launching public awareness programmes.
3. Intensifying efforts in increasing the rabbit
population to decrease competition
among the lynxes.
4. A captive breeding programme has been
started.
5. Efforts to reduce traffic fatalities.

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