Editing Bobcat (section)

==Description==
[[File:Bobbie 2010 2.jpg|thumb|The small tufts on a bobcat's ears are difficult to spot at even moderate distance]]

The bobcat resembles other species of the midsize genus ''Lynx'', but is on average the smallest of the four. Its coat is variable, though generally tan to grayish-brown, with black streaks on the body and dark bars on the forelegs and tail. Its spotted patterning acts as camouflage. The ears are black-tipped and pointed, with short, black tufts. Generally, an off-white color is seen on the lips, chin, and underparts. Bobcats in the desert regions of the southwest have the lightest-colored coats, while those in the northern, forested regions are darkest. Kittens are born well-furred and already have their spots.<ref name=cah>{{cite book |author=Cahalane, V. H. |date=2005 | title=Meeting the Mammals |publisher=Kessinger Publishing |isbn=978-1-4179-9522-6 | page=64}}</ref> A few [[Melanism|melanistic]] bobcats have been sighted and captured in Florida, USA and New Brunswick, Canada.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fowler |first=S. |date=2016 |title=Appearance of black bobcats in New Brunswick puzzles biologist |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/melanistic-black-bobcat-new-brunswick-1.3916091 |work=CBC |location=Fredericton, NB, Canada |access-date=2020-09-19 |archive-date=2021-10-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013185215/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/melanistic-black-bobcat-new-brunswick-1.3916091 |url-status=live }}</ref> They appear black, but may still exhibit a spot pattern.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Ulmer Jr., F. A. |year=1941 |title=Melanism in the Felidae, with Special Reference to the Genus Lynx |journal=Journal of Mammalogy |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=285–288 |doi=10.2307/1374954 |jstor=1374954}}</ref>

The face appears wide due to ruffs of extended hair beneath the ears. Bobcat eyes are yellow with round, black pupils. The nose of the bobcat is pinkish-red, and it has a base color of gray or yellowish- or brownish-red on its face, sides, and back.<ref name=utd>{{cite book |author=Sparano, V. T. |date=1998 |title=Complete Outdoors Encyclopedia |publisher = St. Martin's Press | isbn = 978-0-312-19190-0 |page=228 |url=https://archive.org/details/completeoutdoors00spar/page/228}}</ref> The pupils widen during nocturnal activity to maximize light reception.<ref name=cons>{{cite book |author=McDowell, R. L. |date=2003 |title=Endangered and Threatened Wildlife of New Jersey |publisher=Rutgers University Press |isbn=978-0-8135-3209-7 |pages=23–24, 27}}</ref> The bobcat has sharp hearing and vision, and a good sense of smell. It is an excellent climber and swims when it needs to, but normally avoids water.<ref name=wl/>

The adult bobcat is {{cvt|47.5|-|125|cm}} long from the head to the base of its distinctive stubby tail, averaging {{cvt|82.7|cm}}; the tail is {{cvt|9|to|20|cm}} long.<ref name=utd/>
Its "[[wikt:bobbed|bobbed]]" appearance gives the species its name.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/NorthAmerica/Facts/bobcatfacts.cfm |title=Great Cats: Bobcats – National Zoo&#124; FONZ |publisher=National Zoo |access-date=October 17, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401110239/http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/NorthAmerica/Facts/bobcatfacts.cfm |archive-date=April 1, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bobcats, Bobcat Pictures, Bobcat Facts – National Geographic |date=10 September 2010 |publisher=Animals.nationalgeographic.com |url=http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/bobcat/ |access-date=October 17, 2011 |archive-date=25 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925034359/http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/bobcat |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=MA0017 |title=Field Guides: Species Detail |publisher=eNature |access-date=October 17, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319221937/http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=MA0017 |archive-date=March 19, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/70769/bobcat |title=bobcat (mammal) |publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online |access-date=October 17, 2011 |archive-date=November 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107231501/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/70769/bobcat |url-status=live }}</ref>
An adult stands about {{cvt|30|to|60|cm}} at the shoulders.<ref name=cah/>

Adult males can range in weight from {{cvt|6.4|-|18.3|kg}}, with an average of {{cvt|9.6|kg}}; females at {{cvt|4|-|15.3|kg}}, with an average of {{cvt|6.8|kg}}.<ref name="Burnie">Burnie, D. and Wilson, D.E. (Eds.), ''Animal: The Definitive Visual Guide to the World's Wildlife''. DK Adult (2005), {{ISBN|0-7894-7764-5}}</ref> The largest bobcat accurately measured on record weighed {{cvt|22.2|kg}}, although unverified reports have them reaching {{cvt|27|kg}}.<ref name="uwsp.edu">{{cite web |title= Bobcat ''Lynx rufus'' |author1=Chiamulera, J. |author2=Krueger, E. |author3=Yarbrough, C. |name-list-style=amp |url=http://www.uwsp.edu/wildlife/carnivore/Bobcat%20Natural%20History_files/Bobcat%20Natural%20History.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608214022/http://www.uwsp.edu/wildlife/carnivore/Bobcat%20Natural%20History_files/Bobcat%20Natural%20History.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 8, 2011 |publisher=Uwsp.edu|access-date=February 21, 2011}}</ref> Furthermore, a June 20, 2012, report of a New Hampshire roadkill specimen listed the animal's weight at {{cvt|27|kg}}.<ref>Schreiber, J. (2012). [http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120621/NEWHAMPSHIRE03/706219906 60-pound bobcat turns up as roadkill] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625163340/http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120621/NEWHAMPSHIRE03/706219906 |date=June 25, 2012 }} . ''Union Leader''</ref> The largest-bodied bobcats were recorded in eastern Canada and northern New England, and the smallest in the southern [[Appalachian Mountains]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.science.smith.edu/msi/pdf/i0076-3519-563-01-0001.pdf |title=Bobcat Profile |work=The American Society of Mammalogists |access-date=September 23, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511214304/http://www.science.smith.edu/msi/pdf/i0076-3519-563-01-0001.pdf }}</ref>
Consistent with [[Bergmann's rule]], the bobcat is larger in its northern range and in open habitats.<ref name=CAP>{{cite book |author1=Nowell, K. |author2=Jackson, P. |name-list-style=amp |year=1996 |title=Wild Cats. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan |url=http://carnivoractionplans1.free.fr/wildcats.pdf |publisher=IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group |place=Gland, Switzerland |access-date=2007-05-25 |archive-date=2019-02-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190205062959/http://carnivoractionplans1.free.fr/wildcats.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> A [[Morphology (biology)|morphological]] size comparison study in the eastern United States found a divergence in the location of the largest male and female specimens, suggesting differing [[natural selection|selection constraints]] for the sexes.<ref>{{cite journal |first=R. S. |last=Sikes |author2=Kennedy, M. L. |name-list-style=amp |year=1992 |title=Morphologic Variation of the Bobcat (''Felis rufus'') in the Eastern United States and Its Association with Selected Environmental Variables |journal=American Midland Naturalist |volume=128 |issue=2 |pages=313–324 |doi=10.2307/2426465 |jstor=2426465}}</ref>
Skeletal muscles make up 58.5 % of the bobcat's body weight.<ref>{{Cite journal |author1=Muchlinski, M.N. |author2=Snodgrass, J.J. |last3=Terranova, C.J. |date=2012 |title=Muscle mass scaling in primates: An energetic and ecological perspective |name-list-style=amp |url=http://www.pinniped.net/muchlinski2012.pdf |journal=American Journal of Primatology |volume=74 |issue=5 |pages=395–407 |doi=10.1002/ajp.21990 |pmid=22318851 |s2cid=16897938 |access-date=2022-01-10 |archive-date=2022-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110195149/https://www.pinniped.net/muchlinski2012.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |author=Pitts, G.C. |author2=Bullard, R.T. |chapter=Some Interspecific Aspects of Body Composition in Mammals |pages=45–70 |chapter-url=https://www.nap.edu/read/20255/chapter/3 |title=Body Composition in Animals and Man |publisher=Proceedings of a symposium held May 4, 5, and 6, 1967, at the University of Missouri, Columbia |year=1968 |location=Columbia |doi=10.17226/20255 |isbn=978-0-309-33993-3 |access-date=2022-01-10 |archive-date=2022-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110194452/https://www.nap.edu/read/20255/chapter/3 |url-status=live }}</ref> At birth, it weighs {{cvt|9+1/2|-|12|oz|g|order=flip}} and is about {{cvt|10|in|cm|0|order=flip}} in length. At the age of one year, it weighs about {{cvt|10|lb|kg|order=flip}}.<ref name=wl>{{cite book |author=Fergus, C. |date=2003 |title=Wildlife of Virginia and Maryland Washington D.C. |publisher=Stackpole Books |isbn=978-0-8117-2821-8 |page=119}}</ref>

===Tracks===
[[File:Bobcat tracks in mud.jpg|thumb|Bobcat tracks in mud showing the hind-paw print (top) partially covering the fore-paw print (center)]]

Bobcat tracks show four toes without [[claw]] marks, due to their retractile claws. The tracks range in size from {{cvt|1|-|3|in|mm|round=5|order=flip}}; the average is about {{cvt|1+3/4|in|mm|round=5|order=flip}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bcadventure.com/adventure/wilderness/animals/bobcat.htm |title=Bobcat |access-date=June 25, 2007 |work=bcadventure.com |publisher=Interactive Broadcasting Corporation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070712161625/http://www.bcadventure.com/adventure/wilderness/animals/bobcat.htm |archive-date=July 12, 2007}}</ref> When walking or trotting, the tracks are spaced roughly {{cvt|8|to|18|in|cm|round=5|order=flip}} apart. The bobcat can make great strides when running, often from {{cvt|4|-|8|ft|m|order=flip}}.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Peterson, R. T. |author2=Murie, O. J. |name-list-style=amp |date=1998 |title=A Field Guide to Animal Tracks |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Field Guides |isbn=978-0-395-91094-8 |page=115 |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780395910948/page/115}}</ref>

Like all cats, the bobcat 'directly registers', meaning its hind prints usually fall exactly on top of its fore prints. Bobcat tracks can be generally distinguished from [[feral cat|feral]] or house cat tracks by their larger size: about {{cvt|2|sqin|cm2|round=5|order=flip}} versus {{cvt|1+1/2|sqin|cm2|round=5|order=flip}}.<ref>{{cite book |last=Brown |first=T. |author-link=Tom Brown (naturalist) |title=Tom Brown's Field Guide to Nature Observation and Tracking |year=1986 |publisher=Berkley Trade |isbn= 978-0-425-09966-7}}</ref>