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Ommundsen, P.D.
Morphological differences between lynx and bobcat skulls
1991 Northwest Science (65): 248-250
This study sought to identify characters of potential value in discriminating between the skulls of the Canada lynx (Felis lynx) and bobcat (Felis rufus) in British Columbia. Skulls of 32 bobcats and 29 lynxes were examined. Differences were found in the angle of the infraorbital foramen, the size of the postorbital process of the jugal bone, and the number of minor palatine foramina. Theses, plus previously described differences, were ranked in order of utility for species identification. Separation between the species was greatest for the angle of the infraorbital foramen, height of the postorbial process of the jugal bone, proximity of the major palatine foramen to the orbital rum of the hard palate and the shape of the choanal border of the palatine. No single character separated the species; however, each specimen could be identified using a combination of three characters. The rank order of discriminatory value of the characters may aid in judging the likelihood of correctly identifying skull fragments.
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