lynx

lynx
lynxlike, adj.
/lingks/, n., pl. lynxes, (esp. collectively) lynx for 1, gen. Lyncis /lin"sis/ for 2.
1. any of several wildcats of the genus Lynx (or Felis), having long limbs, a short tail, and usually tufted ears, esp. L. lynx (Canada lynx), of Canada and the northern U.S., having grayish-brown fur marked with white.
2. (cap.) Astron. a northern constellation between Ursa Major and Auriga.
[1300-50; ME < L < Gk lýnx]

* * *

Any of three species of short-tailed forest cat (genus Lynx) found in Europe, Asia, and northern North America.

The North American lynx (Lynx canadensis) is regarded as distinct from the Eurasian and Spanish (Iberian) species. The lynx has long legs, large paws, tufted ears, hairy soles, and a broad, short head. Its coat, which forms a bushy ruff on the neck, is tawny to cream-coloured and mottled with brown and black. Its dense, soft winter fur has been used for trimming garments. Lynx are approximately 30–40 in. (80–100 cm) long, without the 4–8-in. (10–20-cm) tail, and stand about 24 in. (60 cm) high at the shoulder. They weigh 20–45 lb (10–20 kg). Nocturnal and silent except during mating season, lynx live alone or in small groups. They climb and swim well and feed on birds, small mammals, and occasionally deer. Some regional populations of lynx are considered endangered.

* * *

▪ cat genus
 short-tailed cats (family Felidae (feline)), found in the forests of Europe, Asia, and northern North America.

      The Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) and the bobcat (L. rufus) live in North America. The two other lynx species are the Eurasian lynx (L. lynx) and the Iberian lynx (L. pardinus), an endangered species now found only in the mountains of southern Spain.

      Lynx are long-legged, large-pawed cats with tufted ears, hairy soles, and a broad, short head. The coat, which forms a bushy ruff on the neck, is tawny to cream in colour and somewhat mottled with brown and black; the tail tip and ear tufts are black. In winter the fur is dense and soft, up to 10 cm (4 inches) long, and is sought by humans for trimming garments. Lynx range in size from 80 to 100 cm (32 to 40 inches) long, without the 10–20-cm (4–8-inch) tail, and stand about 60 cm (24 inches) at the shoulder. Weight is from 10 to 20 kg (22 to 44 pounds).

 Nocturnal and silent, except during the mating season, lynx live alone or in small groups. They climb and swim well and feed on birds and small mammals. The Eurasian lynx will take larger prey (predation) such as deer. The Canada lynx depends heavily on the snowshoe hare for food, and its population increases and decreases regularly every 9 or 10 years, relative to the population of its prey. Lynx breed in late winter or early spring, and a litter of one to four young is born after a gestation period of about two months.
 

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • lynx — lynx …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • Lynx — (mammifère) Pour les articles homonymes, voir Lynx (homonymie) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • lynx — [ lɛ̃ks ] n. m. • 1677; lynz XIIe; mot lat., du gr. lugx ♦ Mammifère carnivore, fort et agile, aux oreilles pointues garnies d un pinceau de poils. ⇒ loup cervier. Lynx d Afrique. ⇒ caracal. Lynx du Canada. Loc. Avoir des yeux de lynx, une vue… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Lynx II — Lynx (console) Pour les articles homonymes, voir Lynx (homonymie). Lynx Fa …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Lynx — (griech. lýnx, der „Luchs“) bezeichnet: den wissenschaftlichen und Fabel Namen der Luchse, insbesondere des in Europa vorkommenden eurasischen Luchses (Lynx lynx) den lateinische Name eines Sternbildes, siehe Luchs (Sternbild) eine Marke für… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Lynx — puede hacer referencia a: Lynx, género que engloba a las especies de felinos conocidos comúnmente como linces. Lynx, constelación del Hemisferio Norte. Lynx (también llamado Linco), en la mitología romana, fue un rey escita al que Deméter… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Lynx — (l[i^][ng]ks), n. [L. lynx, lyncis, Gr. ly gx; akin to AS. lox, G. luchs, prob. named from its sharp sight, and akin to E. light. See {Light}, n., and cf. {Ounce} an animal.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of several species of feline animals of the genus …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • lynx — [liŋks] n. [ME < L < Gr lynx; prob. so named from its shining eyes: see LIGHT1 ] 1. pl. lynxes or lynx any of a genus (Lynx) of wildcats found throughout the Northern Hemisphere and characterized by a ruff on each side of the face,… …   English World dictionary

  • lynx — mid 14c., from L. lynx (Cf. Sp., Port., It. lince), from Gk. lyngz, perhaps from PIE *leuk light (see LIGHT (Cf. light) (n.)), in reference to its gleaming eyes or its ability to see in the dark. If that men hadden eyghen of a beeste that highte… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Lynx — también es una videoconsola portátil con pantalla en color. Véase Lynx (consola). Lynx es un navegador web en formato texto que cuenta con el patrocinio de la University of Kansas. Es bastante usado en entornos tipo Unix y VMS, sobre todo por… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • lynx — [lıŋks] n plural lynx or lynxes [Date: 1300 1400; : Latin; Origin: Greek] a large wild cat that has no tail and lives in forests American Equivalent: bobcat …   Dictionary of contemporary English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”