Temporal range: Early Pleistocene[1]-Recent 1–0 Ma
PreꞒ
Ꞓ
O
S
D
C
P
T
J
K
Pg
N
↓
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)[2]
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Carnivora
Suborder:
Feliformia
Family:
Felidae
Subfamily:
Felinae
Genus:
Lynx
Species:
L. pardinus
Binomial name
Lynx pardinus
(Temminck, 1827)
Distribution of Iberian lynx, 2015[needs update]
The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is one of the four extant species within the medium-sized wild cat genus Lynx. It is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe. It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.[2] In the 20th century, the Iberian lynx population had declined because of overhunting, poaching, fragmentation of suitable habitats, and the population decline of its main prey species, the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), caused by myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease.[3][4][5]
Fossils indicate that the species has been present in the region since the end of the Early Pleistocene, around 1 million years ago.
By the turn of the 21st century, the Iberian lynx was on the verge of extinction, as only 94 individuals survived in two isolated subpopulations in Andalusia in 2002. Conservation measures have been implemented since then, which included improving habitat, restocking of rabbits, translocating, reintroducing and monitoring Iberian lynxes. By 2012, the population had increased to 326 individuals,[6] to 855 in 2020,[7] to 1,111 in 2021,[8] and to 1,668 in May of 2023.[9]
It is a monotypic species, and is thought to have evolved from Lynx issiodorensis.
^Boscaini, A.; Alba, D.M.; Beltrán, J.F.; Moya-Sola, S. & Madurell-Malapeira, J. (2016). "Latest Early Pleistocene remains of Lynx pardinus (Carnivora, Felidae) from the Iberian Peninsula: taxonomy and evolutionary implications". Quaternary Science Reviews. 143: 96–106. Bibcode:2016QSRv..143...96B. doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2016.05.015.
^ abcRodríguez, A. & Calzada, J. (2020) [errata version of 2015 assessment]. "Lynx pardinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T12520A174111773. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T12520A174111773.en. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
^Simón, M.A. (2012). Ten years conserving the Iberian lynx. Seville: Consejería de Agricultura, Pesca y Medio Ambiente. Junta de Andalusía. ISBN 978-84-92807-80-2.
^Rodríguez-Hidalgo, A.; Lloveras, L.; Moreno-García, M.; Saladié, P.; Canals, A. & Nadal, J. (2013). "Feeding behaviour and taphonomic characterization of non-ingested rabbit remains produced by the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus)". Journal of Archaeological Science. 40 (7): 3031–3045. Bibcode:2013JArSc..40.3031R. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2013.03.006. hdl:10261/153608.
^Fordham, D.A.; Akçakaya, H.R.; Brook, B.W.; Rodríguez, A.; Alves, P.C.; Civantos, E.; Trivino, M.; Watts, M.J. & Araujo, M.B. (2013). "Adapted conservation measures are required to save the Iberian lynx in a changing climate" (PDF). Nature Climate Change. 3 (10): 899–903. Bibcode:2013NatCC...3..899F. doi:10.1038/nclimate1954. hdl:10261/84387.
^Lopez, G.; Lopez, M.; Fernandez, L.; Ruiz, G.; Arenas, R.; Del Rey, T.; Gil, J.M.; Garrote, G.; Garcia, M. & Simon, M. (2012). "Population development of the Iberian lynx since 2002". Cat News. 57: 34.
^Jones, S. (2020). "The lynx effect: Iberian cat claws its way back from brink of extinction". The Guardian.
^Lusa (2021). "Pela primeira vez em 20 anos, há mais de 1000 linces-ibéricos". Público.
^"La población de linces ibéricos alcanza su máximo histórico: 1.668 ejemplares". www.miteco.gob.es.
The Iberianlynx (Lynx pardinus) is one of the four extant species within the medium-sized wild cat genus Lynx. It is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula...
A lynx (/lɪŋks/ links; pl.: lynx or lynxes) is any of the four extant species (the Canada lynx, Iberianlynx, Eurasian lynx and the bobcat) within the...
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through rewilding efforts, such as the proposed reintroduction of the Iberianlynx. Apex predators affect prey species' population dynamics and populations...
The 'lynx' of the Greeks and Romans was most probably the caracal, and the name 'lynx' is sometimes still applied to it, but the present-day lynx proper...
The bobcat (Lynx rufus), also known as the red lynx, is one of the four extant species within the medium-sized wild cat genus Lynx. Native to North America...
Wozencraft in 2005 as a valid Lynx species along with the bobcat (L. rufus), the Eurasian lynx (L. lynx) and the Iberianlynx (L. pardinus). Wozencraft recognized...
of the cultural landscape and as a result animal species such as the Iberianlynx and imperial eagles are threatened with extinction. The cork oak grows...
areas. The endangered Iberianlynx (Lynx pardinus) is a symbol of the Iberian mediterranean forest and of the fauna of the Iberian Peninsula altogether...
Felicola isidoroi, the Iberianlynx louse, is an extinct species of trichodectid chewing louse. It is known only from a single specimen, a male. In an...
to the Felinae that had been proposed in the course of the 19th century: Lynx, Puma, Leptailurus, Prionailurus, Pardofelis, Leopardus, Herpailurus, Neofelis...
installed in 2019 on the seafront in Funchal, Portugal. Another is a huge Iberianlynx in the Parque das Nações, a district of Lisbon, which he created for...
third and a half of the body length, although with some exceptions, like the Lynx species and margay (Leopardus wiedii). Cat species vary greatly in body and...
It is controversially discussed to be a subspecies of the modern Iberianlynx (Lynx pardinus) and to be a junior synonym of this species. Fossils have...
disease, overhunting and habitat loss has caused the decline of the Iberianlynx (Lynx pardinus) and Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti). It is known...
nigricollis). In Spain, it has been recorded less frequently in areas where the Iberianlynx was reintroduced. Captive males and females reach sexual maturity at...
Portugal (the fallow deer, red deer, roe deer, Iberian ibex, wild boar, red fox, Iberian wolf and Iberianlynx) were once widespread throughout the country...
tail and fur characteristics. The ocelot is similar in size to a bobcat (Lynx rufus), though larger individuals have occasionally been recorded. The jaguar...
mishaps, Félix (Felix in the English version), a clumsy and unlucky Iberianlynx, is transported to the animal recovery shelter at the Doñana National...
Appleton Company. Simón, M. A., ed. (2012). Ten years conserving the Iberianlynx. Junta de Andalucía, Seville: Consejería de Agricultura, Pesca y Medio...
since 1998. Viverrids are native to sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, the Iberian Peninsula, southern China, South and Southeast Asia. Favoured habitats...
Saliega was an Iberianlynx who in 2005 became the first of her species to give birth in captivity. Saliega was born in the wild in March 2002 in Sierra...
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