Lynx © Berndt Fischer
Eurasian lynx share the familiar, graceful shape of many cat species, with two very obvious differences. They have distinctive tufts protruding from the tops of their ears, and a very short tail - just 10-20cm long, with a black tip. An adult lynx is 80-150cm long and about 65cm in height. They weigh between 15 and 21kg, about the weight of a border collie. Females tend to be lighter than males.
Patterns and pawprints
Being able to identify individuals of a species can help scientists monitor populations. Each lynx has a unique coat pattern, and just like our fingerprints, it can be used to identify individuals. When lynx are photographed, these individual patterns can help scientists study them.
But lynx are elusive animals and are rarely seen. Looking for their tracks can help monitor their movements. Lynx claws are usually pulled back into their paws. When they walk, the claws are not visible in their pawprints. This helps distinguish lynx tracks from other woodland mammals. Pawprints can give us even more information, too. In a recent study, scientists were able to extract lynx DNA from tracks left in snow, allowing them to identify the individual lynx that made them.