Lynx lynx ssp. sardiniae (Sardinian lynx)

[sebbe67]

Lynx lynx sardiniae, this subspecies has only been recorded from Sardinia, there hasent been any confirmed reports of this animal from the island the last 30 years, and many fear that it is now gone. Last record are from 1967, when a single female was shot in the north. Hunting, habitat lost and lost of prey may be the cause of the extinction.

[another specialist]

Feline Conservation Federation


The lynx inhabiting Europe and Asia have recently all been reclassified as being subspecies of what is now called the Eurasian lynx. Formerly, each subspecies was classified as different species of the genus Lynx. These include the Siberian lynx (L. l. wrangelli), the Northern European lynx (L. l. lynx), Southern European lynx (L. l. dinniki), the Baikal or Irkutsk lynx (L. l. kozlowi) and the Mongolian lynx (L.l. isabellina). Two populations are sometimes given species status, but are most likely geographical sub-populations: L. l. sardiniae found in Italy but resembling L. l. lynx and L. l. stroganovi resembling the L. l. wrangelli. Males are 50-80 pounds and female are 40-50 pounds. Heights average around 24inches at the shoulder.

www.felineconservation.org/R3/Husbandry/Cats/LynxE1.html

[another specialist]

But many sites at present list it as valid and extinct

Also says it wasn't isolated just to Sardinia but also Scilly and parts of Italy....

[lenny]

If this subspecies ever lived on the Italy mainland, which I dont think it did it are extinct, as there are no lynxes left in Italy.

the extinct population of Italy and Sicily, the Sardinian race, lynx sardiniae (which is almost certainly also extinct)

[another specialist]

lenny said:

If this subspecies ever lived on the Italy mainland, which I dont think it did it are extinct, as there are no lynxes left in Italy.

the extinct population of Italy and Sicily, the Sardinian race, lynx sardiniae (which is almost certainly also extinct)

Yes what ever the truth is its extinct. if the Italian mainland subspecies was different from the sardinia subspecies that would make no difference in the out come. But the info is from Feline Conservation Federation which i would say you can trust when it comes to information.....

[Turok]

In my memory it was not Lynx lynx sardinae but Lynx pardinus sardinae and this subspecies of the Iberian Lynx is extinct since ca 40 Years..

Apropos Iberian Lynx, how many of this rare species are existence in the wild?

[Melanie]

According to the latest reports 100 individuals or maybe less.

further reading

www.iberianlynx.org/

[Peter]

Most resourses say it is a subspecies of the Eurasian lynx, not the Iberian Lynx. But if you have a source that says otherwise, I would happily read it!

[Turok]

Edwin Antonius wrote in his Book "Lexikon ausgerotteter Vögel und Säugetiere" that only one subspecies of the Lynx-genus is extinct, the Lynx pardinus sardiniae, first described by Mola in 1908 as Lynx sardiniae.

I think, that on Sardinian lived a "Pardel Race" is more probably as a "Eurasian Race" , because in the past the Pardel Lynx could easier arrive the Sardinian Island as the Eurasien Lynx.

[another specialist]

Turok said:

In my memory it was not Lynx lynx sardinae but Lynx pardinus sardinae and this subspecies of the Iberian Lynx is extinct since ca 40 Years..

Apropos Iberian Lynx, how many of this rare species are existence in the wild?

i agree with the others this subspecies is not a subspecies of the Iberian lynx but the Eurasian lynx.

[another specialist]

Turok said:

In my memory it was not Lynx lynx sardinae but Lynx pardinus sardinae and this subspecies of the Iberian Lynx is extinct since ca 40 Years..

Apropos Iberian Lynx, how many of this rare species are existence in the wild?

In the past it was scientifically known as Lynx lynx sardinae but its new scientific name is Lynx pardinus sardinae. But it is still known by both names depending on the book or website...

[Turok]

Give it no picture of this subspecies?

[Peter]

I've never seen a picture or any image of this animal! But I would love to see one!

[another specialist]

i´ve been looking for an illustration or photo but no luck at present

[Turok]

Is the Sardinian Lynx truly extinct?
I have read a letter about the Fauna of Sardina, the Sarden-Settler keep the nature since hundred of years, here is the link :
www.sardinien.de/natur/flora_fauna.htm?subnav=beaches#

[Turok]

Appearance of the Sardian Lynx.

I made me Notions about the Appearance of the Sardinian Lynx.

Normally, Mammals are smaller on Islands at on the main, for example the Bali-Tiger.
Probably was the Sardinian Lynx more smaller as the Iberian Lynx of Spain, or whats your opinion?
Furthermore, the Sardian Lynx was the only Carnivore on the Island, unless im mistaken. It this so, the Sardian Lynx assume the job from the Wolf,Normal Lynx an from the Fox of the mainland.
Whats your opinion about my idea?

[another specialist]

I would agree with you turok that it may of been much smaller than the mainland subspecies of the Eurasian Lynx which the Sardinian race is/was a subspecies of....

[another specialist]

But i don't agree with it being the only carnivore. As it's not the only one on the island..

Sardinian pine martens (Mutes martes lutinorum ?)

fauna.dipbsf.uninsubria.it/atit/PDF/Volume7(1-2)/7(1-2)_18.pdf

is also found there

[Bucardo]

Turok said:

Furthermore, the Sardian Lynx was the only Carnivore on the Island, unless im mistaken. It this so, the Sardian Lynx assume the job from the Wolf,Normal Lynx an from the Fox of the mainland.

In ancient times, Sardinia had a small, fox-like canid named Cynotherium sardous that probably extinct at the beginning of the Holocene, due to human hunting and introduction of feral dogs from mainland. Cynotherium also lived in Corsica.

www.nmr.nl/deins712.html

The Cynotherium from Corbeddu (Sardinia): comparative biometry with extant and fossil canids (page 147-168)

The Mio-Plio-Pleistocene faunal succession of Sardinia is discussed in the context of paleogeography and stratigraphy. Some material of a particular stratigraphic or taxonomic interest is described. The name Sus sondaari is introduced to replace the preoccupied name Sus nanus. Sardinia may have become an island during the Late Oligocene. Some of the Early Miocene taxa on Sardinia may have survived there from the time when Sardinia was still connected with the main land, others arrived later to the island. Part of these taxa survived till the Late Miocene, when Sardinia (and Corsica) became connected to the island of Tuscany. At this moment faunal exchange occurred between these areas. Some of the taxa known from the Baccinello area may have come from Sardinia. During the Messinian, Sardinia became connected to the mainland again, the endemic fauna went largely or completely extinct and a balanced fauna entered. During the earliest Pliocene Sardinia (and Corsica) became isolated again and an endemic fauna was formed. Possibly only once, at the beginning of the Middle Pleistocene, new elements were introduced. Twice Sardinia changed from mainland to insular conditions. Both times an endemic fauna with reduced diversity evolved from a mainland fauna. This occurred also in other islands. A possible explanation for such a process is that the carrying capacity of an island is insufficient for viable populations of large carnivores. The larger the island, the larger the carnivore that can survive on it. The dog Cynotherium could survive on Sardinia. The absence of large carnivores may lead to increased competition between herbivores, resulting in reduction in species abundance. Only when large carnivores are lacking, certain typical island adaptations, such as low gear locomotion, evolve.

www.arch.unipi.it/Pubblicazioni/pub_Tozzi.html

: Recent excavations in Southern Corsica and Northern Sardinia improved knowledge of human groups who lived on both islands around the 9th-8th millennia cal. BC. According to their subsistence, they can be considered as true Mesolithic people. Archaeozoological data, specially from the Monte Leone shelter (Bonifacio, Corse), show that their subsistence was mainly drawn from hunting small terrestrial game, mostly composed of Prolagus sardus but also of the great bustard (Otis tarda). It was completed by fishing on the seashore, exploiting sea mammals and cropping shellfish. These activities are not attested altogether on all sites. In most of the areas if not everywhere, large endemic mammals (Megaloceros cazioti and Cynotherium sardous) were already extinct at this time. These observations allow first discussions about the subsistence system and territory of these Corsico-Sardinian Mesolithic people.

[another specialist]

thanks for the info Bucardo - very interesting. Where in Spain are you from?