Our world is home to millions of different species that color the land, sea, and sky with diversity and life. It is because of these countless creatures that our earth has managed to survive all of these years. But because there are so many of these beautiful animals, people often confuse some for others. A good example of this would be the bobcat and the lynx.
For years, people were convinced that the bobcat and lynx were one and the same, but modern taxonomists and scientists have fervently argued that these two creatures are actually completely different. Don’t stay confused – find out what sets each of these creatures apart from the other.
What is a Bobcat?
Native to North America, the bobcat is a species of medium-sized cat characterized by its long, tufted ears, and short, bobbed tail which serves as its namesake. The bobcat roams a vast area of land – from southern Canada, all the way to central Mexico. Because of this, the bobcat has learned to adapt to its surroundings, surviving in close to any environment.
This particular cat species can live in wooded areas as well as in urban settings, which makes it susceptible to domestication by misinformed individuals who think it would make a good housecat. Able to sustain itself for long periods without a meal, the bobcat makes up for long stretches of time between feedings my eating heavily when it captures its prey. Usually, the bobcat’s diet consists of small woodland creatures like rabbits and squirrels, although they do change their prey depending on location.
What is a Lynx?
The lynx is characterized by a short tail, tufts of black hair that decorate the tips of its ears, and relatively sizeable paws that have a naturally thick padding which make them ideal for walking through snow coated trails. Depending on the weather in the lynx’s location, its fur coloring can change. Some have brow colored fur, others lean towards a much lighter golden shade. Occasionally, they can be decorated with spots that are particularly prominent around the legs. Lynxes can be found widely across the globe, but most are commonly native to Europe, Asia, and North America.
What Makes Them Different?
Lynx pertains to any four species of cats within the lynx genus, and the bobcat is one of those four. The main difference is that the name “lynx” is used to describe four different types of lynx, one of which is the bobcat species.
