IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Stehlik, J. | |
| Reproductive biology of the European lynx, _Lynx lynx _(Linnaeus, 1758) at Ostrava Zoo | |
| 2000 Der Zoologische Garten (70): 351-360 | |
The study of the reproduction of European lynx (Lynx lynx) was undertaken in the Ostrava Zoo in 1977-1996. Seven males and seven females were used for the study. Sexual maturity was determined in two males and two females at the end of the second year of age. Length of oestrus period and gestation period were established in four cases of two females. The length of oestrus period was two days and the length of gestation period was 72 days. The oestrus period occurred in March (n=2), in one case in February and in one case in April. In 1977-1996 seven females gave birth to 28 young (10.17.1) in 15 litters. The season of birth was May-July, kittens were mostly born in May (66% of births). The average litter size was 1.87 (min. 1, max. 3). The sex ratio of the young was 1:1.7. The juvenile mortality was high - 50%. Longevity of one female was 21 years. Age at last reproduction was 12 years. In view of the length of gestation period of 72 days the European lynx differs from species genus Felis. The literatury statements confirm that the European lynx is a di-oestric species with a wide time variability of the oestrus. |
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