Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) - Lynx Lineage
Lynx in National Park Bavarian Forest By Aconcagua (Own work), GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The wide ranging Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) is the largest of the four wild cats in the Lynx genus. Due to hunting for their luxurious fur, as well as persecution by farmers, they have been extirpated from large areas within their range. Some of the remaining isolated sub-populations are now severely threatened.

The Eurasian Lynx has one of the largest ranges across Europe and Asia with variable coat patterns across this range. The coat color and texture also varies seasonally - usually paler and thicker in winter and darker and thinner in summer.

Lynx Lineage

1. Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx)

2. Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis)

3. Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)

4. Bobcat (Lynx rufus)

Unique Facts

~ Seasonal coat color changes ~

~ Variable coat patterns ~

~ Wide range Europe to Asia ~

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Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) Classification

The Eurasian Lynx belongs to the genus Lynx and the full taxonomy or scientific classification of the Eurasian Lynx species is:

Kingdom: Animalia (animals)

Phylum: Chordata (vertebrates)

Class: Mammalia (mammals)

Order: Carnivora (carnivores)

Suborder: Feliformia (cat-like)

Family: Felidae (cats)

Subfamily: Felinae (small cats)

Genus: Lynx

Species: Lynx lynx (Eurasian Lynx)

Subspecies:

Lynx lynx lynx
Lynx lynx carpathicus
Lynx lynx balcanicus
Lynx lynx isabellinus
Lynx lynx dinniki
Lynx lynx wrangeli

The scientific name for the Eurasian Lynx is Lynx lynx; which is also known as the binomial name, species name, Latin name, biological name or zoological name.

Canada Lynx Sticker
Canada Lynx
Bobcat Sticker
Bobcat
Eurasian Lynx Sticker
Eurasian Lynx
Iberian Lynx Sticker
Iberian Lynx
Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) Classification Chart
Click chart to download.
Permission to use for personal or educational use.
Credit: www.WildCatFamily.com.

Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) Subspecies

Up to eleven subspecies of Eurasian Lynx have been recognized in the past. However based on recent genetic studies, the last revision of the Felidae taxonomy in 2017 proposed six lynx subspecies:

Northern Lynx   (Lynx lynx lynx)
Carpathian Lynx   (Lynx lynx carpathicus)
Balkan Lynx   (Lynx lynx balcanicus)
Caucasus Lynx   (Lynx lynx isabellinus)
Turkestan Lynx   (Lynx lynx dinniki)
Siberian Lynx   (Lynx lynx wrangeli)

Eurasian Lynx Conservation

The global conservation status for Eurasian Lynx is Least Concern (LC) and for the European region. However their status is Endangered (EN) for the Mediterranean region and the Balkan Lynx subspecies is listed as Critically Endangered (CR).

The following organizations are all involved in protecting the Eurasian Lynx. Projects include re-introduction to areas where the lynx have historically been eradicated due to persecution and the fur trade.

Eurasian Lynx in Switzerland

Lynxes in Europe - EuroNatur

Lynx UK Trust - Reintroduce Lynx to Britain

Please support these organizations with their important work if you can. No matter the size of your contribution, every bit helps!


Past Projects

Balkan Lynx Recovery Program

World Wildlife Fund - Lynx in Europe

Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) Research

Here is a list of papers published on Eurasian Lynxes. Click on the title bar to view the abstract and the link to the article.

View more articles on Lynx lynx in the IUCN Cat Specialist Group database (scroll down once the library page is loaded to see the list).

Consider joining the Friends of the Cat Specialist Group to access the full articles and receive their journal Cat News covering the latest wild cat research.

Eurasian Lynx Facts and Information

The following organizations have well researched and authoritative information on the Eurasian Lynx: