Baranxtuan Lynx
The Baranxtuan Lynx (Lynx baranchtucus) is a medium-sized cat found throughout the mountain forests of Baranxtu.
It is one of the main feline predators of Baranxtu, after the native tigers.
Contents
Subspecies
There are two subspecies of the Baranxtuan Lynx. As with all lynx species, they share some common features, such as a tuft of hair at the tip of their ears, a short tail and a ruff around their necks.
Doristan Lynx
Appearance
The Doristan Lynx (Lynx baranchtucus doristiensis) has brown fur with few dark spots. In winter month, they usually grow a thicker, longer fur.
They get only somewhat bigger than an average house cat, but built significantly stockier and thus can reach up to 25kg as a healthy weight. Males are in general larger than females.
Habitat
The habitat of the Doristan Lynx ranges from Abasina to Ziaha, and from Qiru to Āþ-Neila. Their center of population is in the Adijan in the Doristas, and the subspecies derives its name from these provinces.
Halaoran Lynx
Appearance
The Halaoran Lynx (Lynx baranchtucus halaoricus) has a brown and white fur and is somewhat lighter than the Doristan Lynx, usually not exceeding 20kg.
Habitat
As their name suggests, the Halaoran Lynx is mainly at home in Halaora, although its whole range stretches from the Ziaha-Gileğa border into Cicoutimi. The extent of its range into the unclaimed lands is not precisely known.
Behavior
Like most other cats, Baranxtuan Lynxes are generally solitary and very territorial animals. Adult lynxes do not tolerate other adults within their territory.
Within their territory, lynxes have at least one small cave, abandoned burrow or hollow tree that they use as their refuge where they spend their nights and, in the case of females, raise their young.
Females get into heat in the middle to late spring, and give birth to a litter of one or two - rarely more - cubs, which stay with their mother until the next spring. However, they often remain within their mother's territory for another year before they venture out and look for one of their own.
Lynxes are crepuscular and very effective hunters, and they have a broad range of prey. They often hunt animals bigger than themselves, such as large exemplars of the Halaoran Giant Hare or even deer (although they usually prey upon does rather than stags). They may also try to fish in small streams or ponds.
As almost all wild animals, lynxes are naturally shy and avoid contact with humans. However, as their natural habitat is being encroached upon by human settlements, some have been known to enter towns and forage for food in garbage cans, for example.
Lynxes and Humans
Lynxes used to be hunted for their fur, but they have enjoyed complete protection under the law since 1902.
Nowadays, the main concern is the destruction and dissection of their natural habitat. For example, the number of lynxes falling victim to cars has been steadily growing over the past decades.
