User:Vekke/Svalbardian Lynx

Physical Appearance
The Svalbardian lynx somewhat resembles a large caracal; their ears are long and point outwards near the tips, and they have long ear tufts that can grow to be over 3.5 inches long. They generally have tails that are about half the length of their body, though certain lynx can have tails known to be shorter or longer.

Svalbardian lynx come in many different colors. Among the most common are white, shades of grey, black, and muddy brown. Piebald spotting, tabby patterns/ticking, and tipping can occur often. Svalbardian lynx fur is long and thick, with smooth guard hairs on the top layer that help to keep their fur from soaking up too much water.

The sketleton of the Svalbardian lynx is an almost mimic of the caracal's, but it doesn't show. Svalbardian Lynx have more fat deposits than the lithe caracal that help to keep them warm in their harsh climate, and therefore they appear stockier. Svalbardian lynx paws are large, flat, slightly webbed, and snowshoe-like to keep them above any snow they encounter.

Svalbardian lynx have been known to grow to up to 5.6 feet at the shoulder, though they're most commonly between 4-5 feet at the shoulder.

Distribution
Svalbardian lynx are distributed throughout Scandinavia, though they are mainly found in Svalbard, hence their name. The population of Svalbardian lynx in other parts of Scandinnavia is sparse.

Diet
Svalbardian lynx feed mainly on lemmings, fish, and reindeer. Most of their diet is made up of many small animals such as lemmings, mice, rabbits, and fish. They will sometimes feed on tree bark when food is scarce. There have been very few reports of these lynx eating neighboring snowy owls.

Reproduction and Life Cycle
Two Svalbardian lynx will usually mate for life, and like most other felines, the females only go through heat once a year. Svalbardian Lynx reach sexual maturity by their first year. Litters happen, on average, no more than 7 times in the female's lifetime.

Usually no more than five kits are born in a litter, in fact it's more likely for lynx to have two or three after a gestation period of 20 weeks. Svalbardian lynx cubs can see and hear after 10 days, and can walk at about 14 days. Cubs start to eat meat at about 2 months old.

The average lifespan of a Svalbardian Lynx is 55 years.

Social Behavior
Svalbardian lynx are very mentally advanced and have learned the advantage of forming societies with hierarchies. There are plenty of communities of Svalbardian lynx, and yet they are all aware of each other and communicate with the other communities regularly. They understand the concepts of trade and bartering although they don't place much importance on material objects, as they aren't things that they feel the need to have. However, many will sing songs and tell stories, as well as pass on their legends and folklore.

Subspecies

 * Caracal scandiaca scandiaca - Svalbard
 * Caracal scandiaca islenscus - Iceland
 * Caracal scandiaca scandensis - Norway, Sweden, Finland
 * Caracal scandiaca dana - Denmark