Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx)
(Geographical Range of Eurasian Lynx, www.freeworldmaps.net)
The Eurasian lynx are one of the most widespread felids in the Eurasia region, ranging from the Atlantic coast of Western Europe to the Pacific Ocean in the Russian Far East (Odden et al., 2006). The Eurasian lynx that live in forest regions of Europe, prey mainly upon ungulates such as the roe deer (Odden et al., 2006; Sunde et al., 2000; Belotti et al., 2013). They also commonly consume more than 30 species from the order lagomorpha in their diet (Odden et al., 2006). During the nineteenth century, there was a large population of Eurasian lynx in Europe (Sunde et al., 2000; Yom-Tov et al., 2011). By the late 1800s there was a huge increase in hunting lynx due to a bounty placed on them, which almost drove the Eurasian lynx to extinction (Sunde et al., 2000; Yom-Tov et al., 2011). Then, in the 1930s and 1940s there was an expansion of the Eurasian lynx in Europe due to an expansion of roe deer, which allowed lynx to spread through most of Europe (Sunde et al., 2000; Yom-Tov et al., 2011).
(Eurasian Lynx, Brent Lundberg, www.arkive.org)
The natural habitat of the Eurasian lynx is in a forested boreal-alpine environment in Europe (Sunde et al., 2000; Yom-Tov et al., 2011). The female Eurasian lynx become sexually mature around 2 years of age, while the male becomes sexually mature around 3 years of age (Gaillard et al., 2014). The females breeding season ranges from February to April, where she mates with one male during that season, and she only has one litter in that year (Gaillard et al., 2014). The average gestation period lasts 69 days where the female Eurasian lynx has an average litter size of 2 cubs, which she raises by herself until the cubs become independent around 10 months of age (Gaillard et al., 2014). The mortality rate of young wild Eurasian lynxes is relatively high, but the ones that survive can live up to 17 years of age (Valdmann et al., 2004).
The Common Otter (Lutra lutra)
(Geographical Range of the Eurasian Otter, www.drodd.com/html7/blank-world-map.html)
The Eurasian otter is also considered one of the most widespread mammals in Eurasia ranging across Europe, Asia and Africa (IUCN red list, 2016). The natural habitat of the Eurasian otter is in any marine environment such as; ponds, rivers, lakes, streams or coastal waters (IUCN red list, 2016; Ruis-Olmo and Jimenez, 2009). The Eurasian otters are a species native to the Eurasia region, but the overall population has been decreasing to the point of where the otters are now considered near threatened (IUCN red list, 2016). The 1950s and 1960s seen a huge decrease in Eurasian otter population due to otter pelt being high in demand, while there was also an increase in habitat loss from pollution (Arkive, 2017).
(Eurasian Otter, Campbell, www.arkive.org)
The Eurasian otter species is largely nocturnal over most of the countries they inhabit, with a few exceptions (for example, otters in Shetland are diurnal) (Green et al., 1984). The female Eurasian otter becomes sexually mature around 2 years of age, while the male become sexually mature around 1 and a half years of age (IUCN red list, 2016). The average gestation period lasts 64 days where the female Eurasian otter has a litter size that can range from 1-5 cubs, which she raises by herself until the cubs learn to fish around 18 months of age (IUCN red list, 2016). Along with a decreasing population size, the Eurasian otter has low population growth due to a prolonged independence of her cubs, and an average lifespan of 4 years (Arkive, 2017).