Taxonomy
Status
Geographic distribution
History of the species’ decline
Morphology
Ecology
Reproduction
Main threats
Useful references
Taxonomy
Reino: Animalia
Filo: Chordata
Classe: Mammalia
Ordem: Carnivora
Família: Felidae
Género:
Lynx
Espécie:
L. pardinus
Lynx pardinus (Temminck, 1827), original:
Felis pardina
Status
- Global (International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN): CR (Critically Endangered) under C2a(i)
- Portugal (Red Book of Vertebrates): CR (Critically Endangered)
- Spain (Red Book of Vertebrates): CR (Critically Endangered)
- The Iberian lynx is the most threatened carnivore of Europe and the most threatened feline in the world (Global Cat Species Vulnerability Rankings – category 1), due to the small number of animals and populations that exist in the wild and to its limited area of distribution.
- Legal protection:
Habitats Directive, annexes B-II and B-IV. Priority species.
Bern Convention, Annex II
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Annex I A
Geographic distribution
Also known as
liberne,
gato-cravo and
lobo-cerval, the Iberian lynx, whose scientific name is
Lynx pardinus, is a very rare animal, endemic of the Iberian Peninsula, which means it only exists in Portugal and Spain, and has a very restricted geographic distribution. In Spain, only two reproduction areas are known currently, both in Andaluzia, in the eastern region of Sierra Morena and in Doñana. Latest data also point to the existence of some isolated records of Iberian lynx at the eastern Montes de Toledo, western Central System and western Morena Mountain. In Portugal, presently there are no known breeding populations of Iberian lynx, but the sporadic occurrence of some animals from Spanish populations in search of new territories (one of which in 2010, in the region of Moura/Barrancos), has brought hope for the conserving of this flagship species. Overall, it is estimated that only about 300 adults exist in nature.
History of the species’ decline
Until the XIX century, the Iberian lynx occupied the entire Iberian Peninsula. However, during the XX century, since the 40’s it suffered a very sharp decline. This was when the wheat campaigns (
campanhas do trigo) led to the transformation of a large area of forests and scrublands in vast crops, destroying the mosaic of habitat necessary for the Iberian lynx survival. In the 50’s, with the introduction of myxomatosis in the Iberian Peninsula and, later, the viral hemorrhagic – two infectious diseases that reduced to almost 90% the populations of its main prey, the wild-rabbit (
Oryctolagus cuniculus) – the situation of the Iberian lynx got worse. In the 70’s and 80’s the extensive plantations for the pulp industry (e.g.
Eucalyptus sp. and maritime pine) have further deteriorated the habitat of this species. In the early 90’s, the Iberian population would only have about 1200 individuals and, in Portugal, the species would only be present at five main areas (Malcata Mountains – São Mamede, Guadiana Valley, Sado Valley – Odemira – Algarvian Mountains), in a total of no more than 45 individuals. This first estimation of a reduced number of animals confirmed the worrying situation the Iberian lynx was facing and to which there were already signs since the 50’s.
Morphology
The Iberian lynx is a middle-sized carnivore – has between 50-70cm high and from 85-100cm long, and weights from 9-10Kg (females) or from 12-14 Kg (males). Its yellowish brown coat with dark spots allows it an excellent camouflage in the vegetation of the Mediterranean landscape and each individual has a unique coat pattern, which allows distinguishing every animal. Its spots can have variable dimensions and shapes – the lynxes from the Doñana population, for example, have bigger and better contrasting spots in the yellowish brown coat, than the ones of Sierra Morena. With very strong limbs and four retractile claws in each paw, the Iberian lynx is able to easily chase and capture its agile preys – the hindlimbs (longer) enables it to project its body to several meters height, when necessary, and the forelimbs (shorter and stronger) to capture its preys.
The Iberian lynx has very particular characteristics that allow him to distinguish it from the other felines. Among them are the stiff and black hairs that look like a brush in the tip of the ears and a short tail (14cm long) with black tip. Furthermore, the Iberian lynx has long black and white fairs that resemble to beards and that grow with age.
Ecology
The Iberian lynx is a very selective carnivore, not only in what it feeds on but also in the type of landscape it lives in, as it is normally associated to typically Mediterranean habitat areas.
Its main prey is the wild rabbit, constituting about 80 to 100% of its diet. However, the lynx is very beneficial to the wild rabbit populations because, besides maintaining its populations healthy (preferentially captures sick, old or debilitated animals), this top-predator keeps off or eliminates other carnivores that compete with him and that, overall, end up consuming more preys than the lynx itself. Although in a much lower percentage, when possible, the Iberian lynx also feeds on other animals, namely birds (e.g. partridges, magpies), small mammals (e.g. rodents, hares) and offspring or juveniles of wild ungulates (e.g. red deer, fallow deer).
Concerning its habitat, the Iberian lynx needs mixed landscapes, with areas of dense scrublands and forests, with holm and cork oaks, strawberry trees and high scrublands, where it can find shelter and breed, and more opened areas, that enable him to chase and capture its preys. Riparian galleries near the water streams are equally important, because besides providing shelter and water, they work as corridors in the mosaic of landscapes. Generally, the Iberian lynx avoids urbanized areas and extensive agriculture fields or forested plantations.
The Iberian lynx is a territorial species, and both males and females need large areas of adequate habitat to survive. The territories of males are slightly larger, ranging from 10 to 17km
2, and can overlap to the females’ territories. The presence of other carnivores, such as foxes or Egyptian mongooses, inside their territories is not tolerated, and can sometimes result in confrontations that can end with the death of the intruder.
In nature, although unknown for sure, it is estimated that this feline can reach between 10-15 years of longevity, while in captivity these animals can live up to 20 years.
Reproduction
Just like many other felines, the Iberian lynx is a solitary species. Males only search for females in the breeding season, when they are in heat, which normally happens between January and February. After mating, the male returns to its territory, having no further contact with the female or parenting behavior. Meanwhile, the female seeks a burrow or a den in natural cavities to give birth to its young, like the trunk of a large tree or a rocky area, in a region away from human disturbance and with food and water available nearby. After two months of gestation (65-72 days), one to four small cubs born, being the most common in nature the birth of three, of which only two normally survive. With only two months old, the cubs start to leave the den and follow their mother in her forays through the territory, where they learn to hunt. Between the first and the second years of life, when the mother re-enters the mating season, the young lynxes generally start to disperse moving away to establish their own territory. However, there are records of animals that remain during the breeding season and exhibit behaviors of familiar cohesion.
Main threats
Over the past decades several reasons have led to the rapid decline of the populations of Iberian lynx (number of individuals and distribution range). But the virtual disappearance of this charismatic feline was mainly due to two main threats: the decline of its main prey (the wild rabbit) and habitat loss and deterioration. The dramatic decrease of the wild rabbit in the last 50 years was mainly caused by viral diseases, loss of suitable habitat (as a result of the abandonment of traditional agricultural practices), and some inadequate hunting practices. As for habitat loss, it is mainly attributed to the replacement of the Mediterranean scrubland and woodlands by fields of intensive monocultures, intensification of grazing systems, agro-industrial plantations of exotic and/or fast-growing forest species (e.g. eucalyptus, maritime pine) aimed at intensifying forestry production. Furthermore, overgrazing, wild fires and the construction of big infrastructures such as roads and dams, have also led to its habitat deterioration and fragmentation.
Although with less relevance, there are other factors that contributed to the decrease of the Iberian lynx, among them: non-natural death (e.g. roadkill, direct persecution); human disturbance in the breeding areas; and lack of information (ignorance of the important ecological role played by this species in the ecosystem). Diseases (e.g. bovine tuberculosis, feline leukemia virus) also pose a serious danger to the survival of this feline, given that this is a geographically isolated species, with populations with low genetic diversity and, therefore, more vulnerable. The risk is higher in areas where the Iberian lynx shares its habitat with other wild and domestic species that also carry these infectious diseases.
Useful references