THE BOB CAT

Cody Gregory

Taxonomy of the Bobcat

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammilia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Lynx Species: L. rufus Sub-Species: L. r. floridanus

Physical Description

Florida Bobcats are about the size of a medium sized dog with an adult male being 99.06 centimeters in length and weighing about 10.88 kilograms

Bobcats exhibit a bit of sexual dimorphism as the females are slightly smaller than the males, with the females being 91.44 cm in length and weighing around 6.8 kilograms

Physical Description (cont.) They have extremely sharp, retractable

claws and needle-like teeth. The fur of the Florida Bobcat is short,

soft, and very thick The coloration of their fur is usually dark

brown with black spots and bars on their sides and back

The fur of the underbelly is white in color

Bobcat Pictures

Habitat Bobcats are spread

all over North America, and are have adapted to live in many diverse locations.

The Florida Bobcat has adapted to the hot humid climate and has shorter hair than its northern brethren.

Habitat (cont.)

Bobcats in the Indian River Lagoon have adapted to living in the salt marshes and wetlands surrounding the water.

It is not uncommon to see them on the shores of the Lagoon sometimes (or in the water)

Habitat (cont.)

Florida Bobcats also make their homes in wooded forests, hammock land, and in the Florida Scrub

Diet

Bobcats will eat just about anything that’s meat but they do have some favorites, such asMarsh rabbitsSquirrels Eastern Cotton tail rabbitsThe rare young whitetail deer

Bobcat with rabbit

Effect on the Indian River Lagoon Since the Florida Bobcats are a main

predator along the shores of the Lagoon they curb the population of the small mammals within their vicinity

Fin.

Bibliography

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/bobcat/

http://www.floridiannature.com/bobcats.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobcat https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&

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