Difference Between a Lynx and a Bobcat (With Table)

Lynx is the genus of the cat with four other species belonging to it. The scientific name of the Canada Lynx is Lynx canadensis. The cat measures up to a length of approximately between 31-51 inches. The nature of the cat is very gentle and calm. They weigh up to 29 kg and are quite heavy.  

Bobcat also belongs to the same genus that is Lynx but is different in the species. The scientific name of the cat is Lynx rufus. The second common name used for the cat is Red Lynx. According to the IUCN Red list, they have listed Bobcat is the least concerned because of its high population and distribution. 

Comparison Table Between a Lynx and a Bobcat

What is a Lynx?

Lynx is a genus of a cat that is to be found in the geographical range or area of Canada, Spain, Asia, and Europe. The natural habitat region of the cats is the mountains, forests, steppes. The size of the cat may reach up to 31-51 inches and weighs up to 29 kg, thus can be considered as the heavier. The tail of the cat was short and had a tip of black color.

The hind legs of the cat are longer and are distinct from that of forelegs. The hind paws of the cat are even large with fur beneath it. The nature of the cat is gentle and calm. The ears are large with dense hairs on them. The diet or food eaten by the Lynx cat is – ducks, grouse, vole, red squirrels, snowshoe hares, etc.

In the IUCN Red list, they have been listed as the least concerned species besides the illegal hunting of the cat for its fur. The genus has four further species, and that are – Canada Lynx, Iberian Lynx, Eurasian Lynx, and the Bobcat. The Lynx cat has very bright and luminescent eyes that glow in the dark. Also, they have very long whiskers on their face.  

What is a Bobcat?

Bobcat is one of the groups that lie in the category of genus Lynx. The original scientific name of the cat is Lynx rufus. The geographical arena of the cat is that it belongs to southern Canada, Mexico, and America. The other name of the cat is the Red Lynx. The natural habitat of the cats is the swampy area, deserts, woodlands, etc.

The size of the cat ranges from up to 41 inches and weighs around 17 kg; thus, it is lighter. The hind leg of the cat is not as distinctively larger as the Lynx cat. The paws are even shorter, and the ear tuft is triangular and with dense hair. The nature of the cat is said to be quite aggressive. Although the cat is being hunted down extensively because of its fur and for a sport, still it has been categorized as the least concerned species by the IUCN Red List.

The diet or food of the cat is primarily hares and rabbits, but sometimes it may also hunt down – insects, geese, rodents, deer, and small animals. The lifespan of the cat is usually 7 years and can be extended up to 10 years, although the maximum life span reported for the bobcat is 16 years.

Main Differences Between a Lynx and a Bobcat

1. The size of the ear tuft of the Lynx cat is large, whereas comparatively, on the other hand, the size of the ear tuft Bobcat is small in size. 
2. The tail of the Lynx is short with an entire black tip; it also has banding on it whereas comparatively, on the other hand, the tail of the Bobcat is large with no banding over it, and also has a black tip with the presence of white color underneath it. 
3. The color of the Lynx cat is slight grey with some indistinct spotting over the skin, whereas comparatively, on the other hand, the color of the Bobcat is reddish-brown with the distinct spotting over the skin. 
4. The size of legs is long, and the legs present at the backside are distinctly larger than that of present at front side for Lynx cat while comparatively, on the other side, the size of the legs is shorter, and the legs present at the back are not distinctly large than the front in the Bobcat.
5. The size of the Lynx cat is large, whereas comparatively, on the other hand, the size of the Bobcat is small.
6. The feet of the Lynx cat are large, the paws have fur underneath, and the paws of the legs present at the back are even large, whereas comparatively, on the other side, the feet of the Bobcat is small along with the paws present at the backside. 
7. The nature of the lynx cat is very gentle, whereas comparatively, on the other side, the nature of the Bobcat is very aggressive.
8. Lynx cats usually prefer snowshoe hare in their diet, while comparatively, on the other hand, the Bobcats prefer a variety of animals in their diet. 
9. The weight of the Lynx cat is usually around 8-29 kg; thus, they are heavier, while comparatively, on the other side, Bobcat weighs around 5-17 kg and thus is lighter. 
10. Lynx cats are usually can be found in Canada, Spain, Europe, Asia, while comparatively, on the other side, Bobcat is usually found in Mexico, southern Canada, America. 
11. The suitable habitat for the Lynx cat is mountains, forest, steppes, while comparatively, on the other side, the suitable habitat for the Bobcat is deserts, swamps, woodland.  

Conclusion

Many mammals can be found in different geographical areas depending upon their habitat. The IUCN Red List is one of the important lists that sequence different species based on their vulnerability, extinction, least concern, and more status. One such genus known is the Lynx that has four different species in which – Lynx canadensis and Lynx rufus. The two of them are way more different in their appearances, geographical locations, and also in their habitat. Lynx cat is large and heavy in weight, whereas the Bobcat is small and light in weight. The habitat of the Lynx cat belongs to the mountains, forest, steppes, whereas the habitat of the Bobcat belongs to the deserts, swamps, woodlands. 

References

1. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2013.2495
2. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0051488
3. https://bioone.org/journals/the-american-midland-naturalist/volume-173/issue-2/amid-173-02-305-317.1/Diet-of-the-Recovering-Ohio-Bobcat-Lynx-rufus-with-a/10.1674/amid-173-02-305-317.1.short
4. <a href=\”https://bioone.org/journals/The-American-Midland-Naturalist/volume-149/issue-2/0003-0031(2003)149%5b0395:SUMAHS%5d2.0.CO;2/Space-Use-Movements-and-Habitat-Selection-of-Adult-Bobcats-span/10.1674/0003-0031(2003)149%5b0395:SUMAHS%5d2.0.CO;2.short”>https://bioone.org/journals/The-American-Midland-Naturalist/volume-149/issue-2/0003-0031(2003)149[0395:SUMAHS]2.0.CO;2/Space-Use-Movements-and-Habitat-Selection-of-Adult-Bobcats-span/10.1674/0003-0031(2003)149[0395:SUMAHS]2.0.CO;2.short