Eurasian Lynx: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Small Wild Cats · day 1 of 7

Five facts

1. The Eurasian lynx can't survive where snow is over one metre deep. Its big webbed paws spread its weight like natural snowshoes.
2. Where grey wolves are abundant, lynx become scarce: wolves compete for the same prey and have been recorded attacking and even eating lynx.
3. Eurasian lynx live in forests as high as 5,500 m, and their range stretches all the way to the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas.
4. In Russia, lynx of both sexes weigh 12 to 32 kg, though over 30 kg is very rare. One from the Altai Mountains was said to weigh 35 kg.
5. The lynx likes rugged terrain with plenty of hide-outs and stalking opportunities, such as rocky steppe and montane forest.

The quiz

1. What do the Eurasian lynx's large, web-covered paws work like?

• Ice picks
• Paddles
• Suction pads
• Natural snowshoes (correct)

The webbed paws spread its weight like natural snowshoes.

2. Which animal makes lynx scarce where it is abundant?

• The brown bear
• The grey wolf (correct)
• The red fox
• The golden eagle

Where grey wolves are abundant, lynx become scarce.

3. How high up can Eurasian lynx forests be?

• Up to 5,500 m (correct)
• Up to 500 m
• Up to 1,000 m
• Up to 9,000 m

Eurasian lynx live in forests up to 5,500 m high.

4. How much was a lynx from the Altai Mountains said to weigh?

• 12 kg
• 22 kg
• 35 kg (correct)
• 50 kg

One lynx from the Altai Mountains was said to weigh 35 kg.

5. What kind of terrain does the Eurasian lynx prefer?

• Flat open plains
• Wide sandy deserts
• Wetland marshes
• Rugged terrain with hide-outs (correct)

It prefers rugged terrain with plenty of hide-outs and stalking opportunities.

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