Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Canada lynx/archive1

Canada lynx

 * Nominator(s): Sainsf  (t · c)  05:49, 4 June 2020 (UTC)

This article is about a North American cat that I came across when I was looking for information on lynxes, and I realized our article on it can be improved a lot. I was fascinated by its unique appearance and its strong correlation with snowshoe hare populations. So I began work on this article a few years back, and it has recently become a GA. After a thorough copyedit, I feel we can take this to the FA level. I hope you enjoy reading this, thanks! :) Sainsf  (t · c)  05:49, 4 June 2020 (UTC)

Support by Enwebb
Note: I'll be claiming points for the WikiCup for this review
 * Can you add a citation at the end of the first paragraph in taxonomy?
 * Done


 * A 1987 study... this is quite old. Is this idea still supported?
 * I have revised this part a bit, it is not exactly a single study.. rather it is a collection of results from more than one. Seems there has been no recent research that one can get hold of even after a lot of searching, and the results stated here are mostly based on work in the 20th century. There seems to be nothing that opposes this theory.


 * The large, broad paws are covered in long, thick fur and can spread as wide as 10 centimetres (3.9 in) to move quickly and easily on soft snow I think this would be helpful if you provided the context of how wide their paws are ordinarily
 * Good point, but I am unable to find any information on that.


 * The paws of a Canada lynx can support nearly double the weight those of a bobcat can bear before sinking phrasing is a little odd here. How about "Its paws can support almost twice as much weight as a bobcat's before sinking" ?
 * Done


 * The deciduous dentition is 3.1.23.1.2 (24 teeth) I feel like you could tack on a bit at the end here, such as, "...as the young do not have molars." That would emphasize the difference between deciduous and adult teeth for people who may not know how to read a dental formula.
 * Done


 * with the sizes of lynx' home ranges if the plural of "lynx" is "lynxes", then the plural possessive is "lynxes' "
 * Fixed


 * After a gestational period.. I think it's just "gestation period"
 * Fixed


 * (in 24 States) I think it's just "states"
 * fixed


 * 14 contiguous United States again, I think you would just say "states" (that's my familiarity as a US citizen)
 * Fixed


 * sometimes Bobcat tracks common names not capitalized
 * Fixed


 * Is this in British English? If so, should it be "grey" instead of "gray"?
 * Canadian English. Seems a few inconsistencies had appeared since I last checked it, I have now corrected these instances and more using a script and added a template mentioning the type of English on the talk page. Sainsf  (t · c)  16:26, 5 June 2020 (UTC)
 * Out of curiosity, what's the script? Seems useful! Enwebb (talk) 16:55, 5 June 2020 (UTC)
 * Oh, it is this one User:Ohconfucius/script/EngvarB. I found this and many other amazing scripts at User scripts/List. Sainsf  (t · c)  17:47, 5 June 2020 (UTC)

I'll come back with more later today, just wanted to start a section. Also, would you consider adding a review to Horseshoe bat? Enwebb (talk) 14:56, 4 June 2020 (UTC)
 * Thank you for your comments, I will address all of them soon. So far I have added the required citation, I missed it while I was rearranging things a bit in that section. I am not sure I can review articles at the moment but I will surely take a look at your FAC and may be a few others next week. Cheers, Sainsf  (t · c)  15:48, 4 June 2020 (UTC)
 * I have replied to all of your comments. Cheers, Sainsf  (t · c)  10:01, 5 June 2020 (UTC)
 * This was very well written. I couldn't find anything besides my minor quibbles. Thanks for addressing so quickly. Enwebb (talk) 16:55, 5 June 2020 (UTC)
 * Thank you Enwebb! Your comments showed me some errors I often make so I am not repeating those ever again :) Sainsf  (t · c)  17:47, 5 June 2020 (UTC)

Comment: Why is it significant that the animal is in Payette's coat of arms? Nikkimaria (talk) 20:51, 6 June 2020 (UTC)
 * I could not find any details of its cultural significance except for this only proper instance of its use as a symbol so I included it. Can remove it if it is that irrelevant though, or if we find better things to add. Sainsf  (t · c)  21:25, 6 June 2020 (UTC)
 * Don't think the fact that this is the only use of it as a symbol you could find, is a good indication that this is a use that should be included. Nikkimaria (talk) 21:59, 6 June 2020 (UTC)
 * Right. I have removed this part. Sainsf  (t · c)  09:46, 7 June 2020 (UTC)

Pinging a few biology FAC reviewers as this has been inactive since 2 weeks, my apologies if any of you is busy. Cheers, Sainsf  (t · c)  11:34, 20 June 2020 (UTC)
 * I'll see what I can do when I get a bit more time. It also seems archiving time is a bit slower now because of the pandemic, so I think they're a bit more lax. FunkMonk (talk) 11:37, 20 June 2020 (UTC)
 * Seems you've already racked up the necessary reviews, but I'll come back if it stalls! FunkMonk (talk) 09:30, 3 July 2020 (UTC)


 * I've finished scheduling TFA now, so should be able to take a look early next week Jimfbleak - talk to me?  12:08, 20 June 2020 (UTC)
 * Thanks for the ping. I can't promise anything I'm afraid, but best of luck with the review regardless! Josh Milburn (talk) 18:24, 24 June 2020 (UTC)

Support from Jens Lallensack

 * forming "intrasexual" territories. – I'm not sure what this means myself, and I think it is definitely not accessible enough for the lead. Same-sex territories? But it was stated that they where solitary, how does this fit together?
 * As the text preceding it says, it means the territories are formed such that individuals of the same sex avoid each other. Any suggestions to clarify this better?


 * the ancestor of five extant felid lineages—Lynx, Leopardus, Puma, Felis and Prionailurus plus Otocolobus—arrived in North America after crossing the Bering Strait 8.5 to 8 million years ago. – This doesn't seem to be precise – or does this really mean that extant felids originated in North America? I think it was not the common ancestor that crossed the Bering Strait.
 * To quote the source, "The second migration (M2) relocated a common ancestor to five felid lineages (ocelot, lynx, puma, leopard cat, and domestic cat) across the Bering land bridge to North America for the first time,8.5 to 8.0 Ma". I think it matches what is given here.


 * Lynx diverged from the Puma, Felis and Prionailurus plus Otocolobus lineages around 3.24 mya. The Issoire lynx (L. issiodorensis), believed to be the ancestor of the four modern Lynx species, probably originated in Africa 4 mya – these ages seem to contradict each other. How could Lynx have diverged 3.24 mya when its oldest species is even older?
 * "3.24" is an approximation but the estimated interval is 2.53-4.74 mya, so I have replaced it with this time range now. That should include the rough estimate for the oldest species.


 * Canada lynx fossils excavated in North America date back to the Sangamonian and the Wisconsin Glacial Episode. Fossils have been recorded more often from various locations across Europe. – this means Canada lynx lived in Europe? If so, I would recommend to state it directly since it is an important fact.
 * Oh this one could have been a real error. The source I used here included details of the Eurasian lynx too without specifying it, thanks for pointing it out. The rest of the sentence is accurate. Deleted.


 * the back appears to be sloping downward toward the front – I wonder about the use of the word "appears". It appears to be sloping but actually it is not sloping?
 * No it's actually sloping, reworded


 * more soon. --Jens Lallensack (talk) 22:00, 21 June 2020 (UTC)
 * Although no melanistic or albinistic forms of the Canada lynx are known, "blue" lynxes have been reported in Alaska. – I don't think blue fur is possible because blue is a structural color, not a pigment. Is it possible to explain what is meant by "blue lynxes"? I have no idea.
 * Changed to "a specimen from Alaska was reported to have bluish-gray fur"


 * Similar to other lynxes, black tufts around 4 cm (1.6 in) in length emerge from the tips of the ears – anything known about the function of those?
 * Sorry, no clear info about those


 * Both species walk with the back foot typically following the front foot – the feet of the same or opposite side of the body?
 * Same side, added
 * This would be very awkward. Mammals usually move their hind limb first, and the forelimb on the same side leaves the ground a bit later. Youtube videos about this Lynx I watched showed just this. Can you please confirm? If the hind foot moves first than I'm not sure if this warrants mention as this is the most common gait in mammals. --Jens Lallensack (talk) 16:57, 8 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Re-checked this, I really did not think this could be unusual. The source doesn't clarify this, and I must have read the "same side" bit in an article about another species. It does seem to be the typical gait, and probably needn't be mentioned explicitly. For now I have removed "on the same side" from the line. Sainsf  (t · c)  17:50, 8 July 2020 (UTC)
 * "On the same side" was correct, I am worried about this part: with the back foot typically following the front foot. It is the other way around, the back foot moves first and then comes the front foot. You clearly see it on this image, where the right hind foot already touched down while the right fore foot is still in the middle of the swinging phase. Its called an lateral-sequence singlefoot walk. --Jens Lallensack (talk) 17:59, 8 July 2020 (UTC)


 * both killed more than necessary for subsistence; – do they eat more or do they not finishing up the kills?
 * They did not store the kills for later but could not finish all of it so some of it was wasted. This is stated in the line "Lynxes rarely cached their kills, unlike coyotes, and this may have led to incomplete consumption of some kills".


 * Urine marking and mating calls are part of display behaviour and increases – "increase"?
 * Fixed


 * The home range of the expecting female shrinks and her activity at the den site increases. – already mentioned earlier.
 * Removed


 * Very interesting, and nice to read. Thanks for this. --Jens Lallensack (talk) 22:09, 22 June 2020 (UTC)

Thank you for your time. I will get to these in a few days. Cheers, Sainsf  (t · c)  12:25, 25 June 2020 (UTC)
 * I have addressed all your points, could you take a look? Cheers and stay safe! Sainsf  (t · c)  09:09, 3 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Support! --Jens Lallensack (talk) 17:59, 8 July 2020 (UTC)

Support Comments from Jim
Very comprehensive, so just a few niggles before I support Jimfbleak - talk to me?  08:52, 23 June 2020 (UTC)
 * The Canada lynx was first described by Robert Kerr in 1792&mdash; "formally" needed, I think
 * The "Diseases and mortality" section has a few problems.
 * I'd expect a paragraph division predators/diseases, so predator plus plague/other diseases looks odd
 * I have now changed this to disease/predator.
 * Do bears ever kill lynx?
 * Sorry, couldn't find sources clearly stating that
 * with the plague, I'd expect a link to Yersinia pestis and mention that it was acquired from infected prey
 * Done


 * I'd dispute the caption improperly labelled as "Canadian". The photograph is taken by a German in a German collection. It's perfectly plausible that he is using BE for his translation, where "Canadian" would be expected. As a Brit, my first thought was "why isn't it Canadian lynx?". After all, its cousin isn't "Europe lynx". Anyway, not using the Nam spelling isn't incorrect.
 * There has been some discussion on this here . I am not really sure why "Canada" is preferred over "Canadian", User:7&6=thirteen you can clarify this better (I really couldn't figure how to use the ping template for you, that "=" confused it I guess). Sainsf  (t · c)  09:20, 3 July 2020 (UTC)

Thank you for the comments. Will respond to these soon. Sainsf (t · c)  12:26, 25 June 2020 (UTC)
 * Because it's the species name. ... 7&amp;6=thirteen (☎) 10:51, 3 July 2020 (UTC)

Replied to all your points, mind taking a look? Cheers and stay safe! Sainsf (t · c)  09:20, 3 July 2020 (UTC)


 * Changed to support above. I raised the bear issue only because it's a much larger predator, so it is certainly capable, and I know that in Europe bears negatively impact on lynx by competing for food Jimfbleak - talk to me?  12:40, 3 July 2020 (UTC)

Image review - pass
Nb, I intend to claim points for this review in the WikiCup.


 * Captions: why "Fossils of the Issoire lynx", but "Distribution of Canada lynx (2016)", no "the"?
 * Good catch, added "the" to range map caption


 * "Numbers of snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) (yellow background) and Canada lynx (black line, foreground) furs sold to the Hudson's Bay Company". Optional: add 'from 1845 to 1935'.
 * Added


 * Enlarge the three images in "Physical characteristics".
 * Width increased to 250px
 * That has done the trick. (Just about, they still look small to me.) But the use of px is depreciated; could you change it to "upright"?
 * I thought of it too but seems you can't insert it in the multiple image template.. I hope I am not missing something. Sainsf  (t · c)  17:18, 7 July 2020 (UTC)
 * How odd. If you are, so am I. Ah well.


 * "File:Milliers fourrures vendues en environ 90 ans odum 1953 en.jpg" needs a more precise source; "statistics collected by Odum archives (published 1953)" is not sufficient for me to clearly identify and/or check the source.
 * Fair point. I searched for this publication online and it seems to be this one Fundamentals of Ecology (1953) by Eugene P. Odum. I can't access the book itself but I found several sources citing the same plot from the book    . I think this should suffice for verifying the source and the name of the book can be added to the file description.
 * You can cite direct to the image 1.13 in Pikovsky et al. Could you add it to "Source" on the Commons page. (Ie 'Own work, based on ...'.
 * Great, done. Sainsf  (t · c)  17:18, 7 July 2020 (UTC)

Gog the Mild (talk) 15:45, 4 July 2020 (UTC)

Thank you, and sorry for the delay. I've replied to all of the above. Cheers and stay safe, Sainsf  (t · c)  16:24, 7 July 2020 (UTC)


 * No worries, Wikipedia isn't going anywhere. Two minor follow up actions above and we are done. Gog the Mild (talk) 16:38, 7 July 2020 (UTC)

Coord note
I've added this to the urgents list and requested a source review. --Ealdgyth (talk) 15:16, 7 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Thank you Ealdgyth :) Sainsf  (t · c)  16:25, 7 July 2020 (UTC)

Source review - spotchecks not done
 * FN3 is wikilinked to a comedy film, which I expect is not what you're meaning to cite!
 * FN5: DIANE appears to be a republisher - what's the original publication information?
 * Be consistent in whether you include locations for books, and if you do they should be specific (eg not "Colorado") and consistently formatted ("Baltimore" vs "Boston, US", "Cambridge" vs "Oxford, UK"). Ditto reports
 * FN27 is missing access date
 * How does FN42 meet WP:SCHOLARSHIP? Nikkimaria (talk) 22:55, 11 July 2020 (UTC)

Thanks for the review. I believe I have fixed all the issues, mind taking a look? Cheers, Sainsf  (t · c)  16:35, 12 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Yep, looks good. Nikkimaria (talk) 19:04, 12 July 2020 (UTC)