Bobcat - Bobcat (English spelling)

A mammalian animal of the order Carnivora and family Felidae. Also called the red lynx. It inhabits forests, swamps, rocky areas, and deserts from southern Canada to Mexico. Its body length is 75-100 cm, its tail length 10-18 cm, and its weight 6.8-9.1 kg. Its body color varies from light brown to reddish brown, but its tail is black on the top and whitish on the bottom. It lives alone and is nocturnal, feeding mainly on rabbits, mice, and squirrels. It is also good at climbing trees and swimming. Its home range varies depending on the amount of food, and is 8-80 km in diameter. It builds nests in rocky areas or tree holes, and usually gives birth to two pups, but it is not uncommon for it to give birth to four pups. It gives birth all year round, but its main mating season is from December to April of the following year, with most births occurring in May and June. Its gestation period is 50-60 days. Their natural predators are pumas for adults, foxes and eagle owls for young, and their lifespan is about 12 years.

[Tadaaki Imaizumi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

哺乳(ほにゅう)綱食肉目ネコ科の動物。アカオオヤマネコともいう。カナダ南部からメキシコの森林、沼沢地、岩場、砂漠などに生息する。体長75～100センチメートル、尾長10～18センチメートル、体重6.8～9.1キログラム。体は淡褐色から赤褐色まで変化に富むが、尾の上面は黒く下面は白っぽい。単独で生活し夜行性で、アナウサギ、ノネズミ、リスを主食とする。木登りや泳ぎもうまい。行動圏は食物量によって異なり、直径8～80キロメートルである。岩場や樹洞などに巣をつくり、普通2子を産むが4子のこともまれではない。一年中出産するが、おもな発情期は12月から翌年4月で、5～6月に出産が多い。妊娠期間は50～60日。天敵は成獣ではピューマ、幼獣ではキツネ、ワシミミズクで、寿命は12年ほどである。

［今泉忠明］

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