There are many amazing creatures of nature in our world. How many wild cats can be found on our planet! And you, for example, know what breeds of lynx exist? This is both Spanish, Canadian, and even steppe. We will talk about the latter.
Steppe lynx
Caracal is a predatory mammal that belongs to the Feline family. Externally, the animal is very similar to other similar ones, however, genetic features have become the reason that it was allocated in a separate row.
“Caracal” translated from Turkish means “black ear”. By the way, the back side of ears in such cats is exactly black.
In North Africa, the steppe lynx is called the "Barbary". Outwardly, the animal really resembles a lynx, but the caracal is slimmer and a little smaller. Another difference is the plain color.
On average, the length of the body is 75 cm, and the tail is 28 cm, the height in the shoulders is about 44 cm. Its weight ranges from eleven to nineteen kilograms.
Lynx ears with tassels (no more than five centimeters long) at the ends. The fur is thick and short. The outer side of the ears and tassels are black. The color resembles a North American puma: on the muzzle there are black marks on the sides, a whitish bottom and a reddish-brown or sandy top. Very rarely, but you can meet such an amazing creature as a black caracal. Steppe lynx with this color is called "caracal melanist."
According to morphological characteristics, this animal is closer to the cougar, although outwardly it looks like a lynx. Caracal is also close to the African serval. By the way, in captivity they cross him with him.
Steppe lynx is found in the foothills, deserts and savannahs of Africa, as well as in Asia. You rarely see such a beast in the CIS: it is found in Turkmenistan, as well as in the Bukhara region of Uzbekistan.
As a rule, the steppe lynx hunts at night, but in spring and winter it can be found in the afternoon.
Where does the wondrous beast live?
As a rule, shelters for caracal are burrows of foxes and porcupines, as well as crevices of rocks. Sometimes they use one place for several years. Females occupy small territories that are located on the periphery, while males choose vast ones.
Although the steppe lynx has long legs, it cannot run long distances, so it hunts by overtaking the victim with large (up to 4.5 m long) jumps. She has a very quick reaction. Caracal from a flying flock can immediately grab a few birds. The main food of the steppe lynx is rodents (ground squirrels, gerbils), antelopes (small), as well as tolai hares. Sometimes her food becomes reptiles, insects, small predatory animals (mongoose, fox). In addition, it can attack goats and lambs or steal poultry. Steppe lynx can do without water for a long time, it will receive liquid from its prey.
To hide his game from other predators, a caracal drags it into the trees.
