MORPHOLOGY AND ANOMALY OF THE SCULL OF ZOO LYNX LYNX (CARNIVORA: FELIDAE): ECOLOGICAL ASPECTS FOR FURTHER REINTRODUCTION

Kamelia Stamatovayovcheva, Rosen Dimitrov, Svetozar Krastev, Radoslav Mihaylov

Abstract: Two skulls of zoo lynxes and one lynx skull with unknown origin have been studied. One of the lynx was male and seven years and six months old, imported from Russia and lived in the zoo in Stara Zagora. The second one was two years and six months old, imported from Czech Republic. The third lynx was from osteological collection and was with unknown origin. A comparative morphological investigation was conducted, using native and radiological study. After the osteological treatment of one skull, it was found that there was a bone defect in the caudal part of the frontal bones, which motivated our study. According to us, it was a bone anomaly, resulted by the inbreeding of the animal, often leading to the occasional appearance of asymptomatic bone defects. We suggest the origin of the lynxes to be studied carefully in their reintroduction in order to prevent the displacement of inbreeding animals. Thus, we propose that it is better to be studied the lynx ancestor for future reintroductions of the animal, which is of great importance for its ecology and surviving.

Keywords: lynx; malformations; morphology; reintroduction; skull

Date published: 2018-05-03