There are four living species in the genus Lynx: Canada lynx, bobcat, Eurasian lynx, and Iberian lynx. These medium-sized wild cats are known for their short tails, big paws, and tufted ears. The name lynx is thought to be rooted in an Indo-European word meaning light or brightness, in reference to the animals’ shining eyes or adept eyesight.
The Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) have a thick, silvery coat and large, densely-furred paws that act like snowshoes, helping them survive in cold, snowy climates. They have black-tufted ears and a facial ruff. They can weigh up to 37 pounds (17 kg), but their dense fur often makes the species appear larger.
Canada lynxes inhabit most of the forested areas of Canada and Alaska. In the lower 48 United States, they can also be found in small populations in boreal and sub-boreal forests in the Pacific Northwest, the Northern Great Lakes region, and in parts of New England. Canada lynxes were reintroduced to Colorado from the Yukon in the 1990s and have since dispersed as far south as New Mexico.
The Canada lynx exhibits some of the most dramatic natural population cycles of any mammal. These 10-year population cycles closely follow the population cycles of their main prey, the snowshoe hare, which can make up to 97 percent of a Canada lynx’s diet.
Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, they are primarily threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, especially in the lower 48 United States.
Bobcats (Lynx rufus) have a stocky build with long legs and a short tail, which gives them their name. They have facial ruffs as well as black and white ears.
Bobcats are similar in appearance to Canada lynxes, and as they co-occur in some habitats, they can often be confused for one another. Generally, the bobcat will be smaller and shorter with distinct black rings and a white underside on its tail. Bobcats are also sometimes confused with house cats, but are on average two to three times the size of a domestic pet.
Bobcats can be found across southern Canada, throughout the contiguous United States and down into parts of Mexico. These small cats can tolerate a wide variety of habitats, preferably those with dense vegetation cover. They are often spotted close to people in neighborhoods or even urban landscapes.
While the bobcat’s diet primarily consists of smaller vertebrates such as lagomorphs (i.e. rabbits), they have been known to take down herbivores as big as white-tailed deer or bighorn sheep.
Considered a species of Least Concern, Bobcats are threatened by intense hunting pressure, with many populations facing overharvest due to poor monitoring. Because bobcats prey on rodents, rat poison is one of the leading causes of bobcat mortality. Close proximity to humans can create additional risks for the species, but bobcats are typically not dangerous to humans.
The Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) is the planet’s largest small cat, on average, and can weigh over 60 pounds (27 kg). Like their Canadian counterparts, Eurasian lynxes have long legs, dense fur, and big paws that act like snowshoes. They also rock a short tail with a black tip and black-tipped tufted ears with white spots.
The Eurasian lynx has one of the largest ranges of any wild cat species, stretching from Western Europe to central Asia. Approximately 75% of its range is in Russia.
There are six proposed subspecies of Eurasian lynx.
A species of Least Concern by IUCN, Eurasian lynx faces threats in some areas of its range including overhunting and retaliatory killing by ranchers and farmers. This cat has also been extirpated from some areas of its range in Western Europe.
About half the size of the Eurasian lynx, the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) weighs about 20-33 pounds (9-15 kg), roughly the same size as the Canada lynx and bobcat. Iberian lynxes have small heads, short bodies, long legs, short tails with a black tip, and tufted ears.
The Iberian lynx calls the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) home. It lives in Mediterranean forests where it primarily hunts rabbits.
The Iberian lynx was once considered the same species as the Eurasian lynx, but now stands on its own because of genetics and morphology.
This species is a true conservation comeback kid. The Iberian lynx once faced rapidly approaching extinction after disease depleted their primary prey, European rabbits, in the 20th century. Habitat loss and overhunting also contributed to Iberian lynx’s declining numbers. Captive-breeding campaigns led by the European Union and Spanish government brought this species back from the brink. In 2024, the Iberian lynx was upgraded from Endangered to Vulnerable by the IUCN.
There are still estimated to be only 400 individuals remaining in the wild, so conservation remains a priority.
Of the world’s 40 wild cat species, 33 are classified as small cats, including these four! Learn more about small cats and our work to preserve them.
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© Sebastian Kennerknecht
