IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
| Pulliainen, E. | |
| Winter diet of _Felis lynx_ L. in SE Finland as compared with the nutrition of other northern lynxes | |
| 1981 Zeitschrift fr Sugetierkunde (46(4)): 249-259 | |
The contents of 88 stomachs and 45 intestines of F. lynx L. killed in winter in southeastern Finland, where no roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) were available, were studied. Of every 5 digestive tracts, 4 contained remains of hare, which accounted for 86% of the weight of the stomach contents, the rest consisting of domestic and ranch animals, a red fox, small rodents, tetraonids and a redpoll. No significant dietary difference was found between the sexes. Support was noted for the theory that female lynx are small because of their low total energy requirements and their ability to channel large amounts of excess energy into reproduction and the males are large as a result of sexual selection. A literature review shows that F. lynx hunts roe deer when available and its large body size may thus be an adaptation to the use of roe deer as a food, while the reduced body size of F. pardina Oken would be an adaptation to the use of rabbit- sized prey in warm climates. In northern North America, where there are no mammals of the size of the roe deer available, F. canadensis Kerr, similar in size to F. pardina, feeds mainly on snowshoe hares. |
|
 |
PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here |
(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union) |