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BOBCAT
 BIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE BOBCAT
(Lynx rufus)
TAXONOMY
KINGDOM: ANIMALIA
PHYLUM: CHORDATA
SUBPHYLUM: VERTEBRATA
CLASS: MAMMALIA
ORDER: CARNIVORA
GENRE: Lynx
SPECIES: rufus
THE BOBCAT OR RED LYNX IS A MEDIUM SIZE FELINE, AN ADULT'S WEIGHT GOES FROM 20 TO 25kg. AND THE BODY MEASURES FROM 60 TO 90cm LONG. IT IS CHARACTERIZED BY HAVING A SHORT TAIL AND HAVING LONG BLACK HAIRS IN THE TIP OF THE EARS, IN ADDITION IT COUNTS WITH "SIDEBURNS" IN THE CHEEKS WHICH GIVES IT A PARTICULAR APPEARANCE. THE SKINS IS NORMALLY REDDISH GRAY WITH BLACK OR BROWN TENUOUS SPOTS AND STRIPES. IT IS CONSIDERED THE THIRD BIGGEST FELINE OF MEXICO (ROMERO, 2005).
IT DISTRIBUTES IN ALL NORTH AMERICA, FROM SOUTH EAST CANADA TO SOUTH EAST MEXICO. IN OUR COUNTRY IT DISTRIBUTES PRACTICALLY IN ALL THE TERRITORY, EXCEPT IN THE PACIFIC COST FROM COLIMA TO OAXACA, IN THE GULF OF MEXICO COST AND IN THE PENINSULA DE YUCATAN (ROMERO, 2005).
IT IS ADAPTED TO A GREAT VARIETY OF HABITATS, LIKE MARSHES, DESERTS AND MOUNTAINS. IN THE MOUNTAINOUS TEMPERATE ZONES OF THE CENTER OF THE COUNTRY IT IS ABUNDANT IN SCRUBS, PINE FORESTS, ENCINE-PINE, OYAMEL AND ENCINE. IN THE BARREN ZONES IT HABITS IN XEROPHILOUS SCRUBS. IT LIVES FROM SEA LEVEL TO 3600mosl (ROMERO, 2005).
THE COMPOSITION AND PERCENTAGE OF THEIR DIET VARIES ACCORDING TO THE SEASON, BUT THEY GENERALLY EAT RABBITS, HARES, RATS AND CAN EVEN HUNT YOUNG DEER (ROMERO, 2005).
THE MATING SEASON IS BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND MARCH (VARIES ACCORDING TO THE LATITUDE) AND THE REARINGS ARE BORN TWO MONTHS LATER. THE MALES ARE POLIGAMISTS AND THE FEMALES ARE POLIESTRIC. AN AVERAGE OF 2 TO 3 REARINGS ARE BORN.
THE FEMALES USE A MADRIGUERA BETWEEN THE ROCKS, ROOTS, FALLEN TRUNKS, ETC., AND EVEN USE IT FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THE PUPPIES ACCOMPANY THE MOTHER UNTIL THEIR 9 MONTHS OLD APPROXIMATELY, TIME WHERE THEY INDEPENDENCE THEMSELVES AND LOOK FOR THEIR OWN TERRITORY. THE FEMALES MATURE SEXUALLY BETWEEN THE 9 AND 12 MONTHS OLD AND THE MALES UNTIL THE SECOND YEAR. THE FEMALES REPRODUCE FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE AGE OF 2 APPROXIMATELY. THE SUCCESS OF THE REARING DEPENDS ON THE AVAIBILITY OF FOOD (ROMERO, 2005).
THEY ARE CONSIDERED AN EFFICIENT REGULATOR OF RODENTS AND OTHER MAMMALS THAT AFFECT THE AGRICULTURE (ROMERO, 2005; CISSEK, 2002).
BIOLOGICAL EVENTS OF THE BOBCAT
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EVENT
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J
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F
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M
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A
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M
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J
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J
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A
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S
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O
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N
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D
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REPRODUCTION
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X
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X
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GESTATION
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X
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X
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X
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BIRTHS
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X
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X
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HUNTING SEASON
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X
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X
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X
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DATOS DE LA ESPECIE
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COMMON NAME:
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BOBCAT
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SCIENTIFIC NAME:
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Lynx rufus
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TYPE OF GAIN:
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CINEGETIC
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TYPE OF MARKING:
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CINEGETIC LICENSE
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