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lynx

lynx

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2008 | Copyright

lynx name given to several related small, ferocious members of the cat family. All have small heads, tufted ears, and heavy bodies with long legs and short tails. All are primarily terrestrial, although they are able to climb trees. The northern lynx, Felis lynx, is found in coniferous forests of N North America and N Eurasia. As a result of hunting by humans and the general deforestation of Europe, the northern lynx is now very restricted in its European range and may be extinct in W Europe. The North American variety of the northern lynx, similar in size and appearance to its Old World counterpart, is also known as the Canada lynx; it ranges from the northern limits of the Canadian forests to the extreme N United States. The Canada lynx may attain a length of more than 3 ft (90 cm), with a 5-in. (13-cm) tail, and may weigh up to 40 lb (18 kg). Its long fur is yellow-brown to grayish, slightly spotted with black. It has long black ear tufts and large feet, adapted to moving on deep snow. A nocturnal hunter, it preys on a variety of game, sometimes as large as deer, but is particularly dependent on the snowshoe rabbit as its staple diet. The Canada lynx population fluctuates in cycles correlated with the fluctuation of the snowshoe rabbit population. Efforts have been made to return the lynx to parts of its former range in the United States (Colorado) and in Europe.

The bobcat, F. rufus, also known as bay lynx or wildcat, is a small North American lynx found in thickets, swamps, and rocky areas from the S of Canada to central Mexico. It has a longer tail, shorter ear tufts, and smaller feet than the Canada lynx; its coat is a redder brown and more spotted. It commonly weighs about 20 lb (9 kg), although some individuals grow much larger. It lives on a variety of small and medium-sized prey; its raids on livestock and poultry have made it a target of farmers.

The Spanish lynx, F. pardina, which once ranged over the Iberian Peninsula, is now found only in small areas in S Spain, where its population numbers about 1,000 to 1,500. The jungle cat, F. chaus, is a lynx of N Africa and Asia, found as far E as Indochina. It lives in a variety of habitats, especially open woodlands and scrub. The caracal , or African lynx, F. caracal, is found in dry country in Africa and W Asia.

Lynxes are classified in the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, order Carnivora, family Felidae.

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lynx

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

lynx / lingks/ • n. a wild cat with yellowish-brown fur (sometimes spotted), a short tail, and tufted ears, found chiefly in the northern latitudes of North America and Eurasia. • Genus Lynx, family Felidae: the Eurasian lynx (L. lynx) and the Canadian lynx (L. canadensis or L. lynx). ∎  the fur of the lynx. ∎  (African lynx) see caracal.

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Lynx

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

Lynx / lingks/ Astron. an inconspicuous northern constellation (the Lynx), between Ursa Major and Gemini. ∎  [as genitive] (Lyn·cis / ˈlinsis/ ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star Alpha Lyncis.

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lynx

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

lynx Any of several small cats found in forests of central and n Europe, along the French-Spanish border, and in the USA. It may be yellow-grey or reddish-brown. It has long legs, large feet, tufted ears, and characteristic beard-like hair on its cheeks. Length: to 116cm (46in). Family Felidae.
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lynx

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

lynx feline animal credited with very keen sight. XIV. — L. — Gr. lúgx, rel. to OE. lox, OHG. luhs (G. luchs), Lith. lúšis, Mlr. lug; prob. f. IE. *leuk-, as in Gr. leússein see (see LIGHT1).
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T. F. HOAD. "lynx." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "lynx." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-lynx.html

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Lynx

A Dictionary of Astronomy | 1997 | Copyright

Lynx (abbr. Lyn, gen. Lyncis) A constellation of the northern sky, representing a lynx. Its brightest star, Alpha Lyncis, is of magnitude 3.1. The other stars are faint, but include several interesting doubles and triples.
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lynx

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | Copyright

lynx a member of the cat family traditionally alluded to for its keenness of sight; the expression lynx-eyed is recorded from the late 16th century.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "lynx." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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Lynx

A Dictionary of the Internet | 2001 | | Copyright

Lynx A text-only BROWSER which does not display any graphics. Because of this it is much faster than conventional browsers.
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DARREL INCE. "Lynx." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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lynx

Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes | 2007 | Copyright

lynx •crux, dux, flux, lux, luxe, tux •afflux • efflux • Benelux • conflux •bollocks, Pollux •flummox, lummox •Lennox • barracks • Trossachs •circs, Merckx, Perks •gasworks • steelworks • printworks •waterworks • calx •Franks, Hanks, Manx, Shanks •Fairbanks • phalanx • Gollancz •spindleshanks •jinks, jinx, lynx, methinks, minx, sphinx •larynx, pharynx •Bronx, Tonks, yonks •Monks • quincunx

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