Species fact sheet

Lynx pardinus

Biology:

Size:   

Reproduction:   

Diet:   

Social organisation: 

   Home ranges:    

 Males 11 – 15 kg / Females 8 – 12 kg

 Mating: Peak in January

 Birth: March - April, but can occur year round

 Litter size: 2-4, normally 2-3

 Strictly carnivorous: rabbits dominate, but can also eat other medium

 and small mammals and birds.

 Solitary and territorial - little overlap with members of same sex.

 Vary from 10 to 17 km² for males and 5 to 12 km² for females.

60 - 110 - 

24 - 33 - 

 Sierra Morena - Andújar-Cardeña (Spain)

 Doñana - Huelva-Sevilla (Spain)

 The map shows the population distribution in the 1970's and 1980's in purple. The present distribution is the two black patches indicated by arrows.

(1) Iberian lynx are the world's most endangered cat species, listed by the IUCN as critically endangered.

(2) The most immediate threat is due to critically small size of the only two existing populations.

(3) The barriers to their recovery include

- low prey base, due to diseases in rabbits

- mortality from illegal killing and vehicle collisions

- habitat conversion