A black-nosed Bobat
The following photo of a black-nosed bobcat was taken by Ben Willis.
Regarding the bobcat road-kill I discussed a few days ago, after having the pelt returned from the taxidermist, I discovered something I havent seen before. Most bobcats have a salmon colored nose and a sort of plum colored foot pads. This particular animal has a black nose and black pads. This may be more common than I think, but I have never seen it before. The coat is typical bobcat pattern and color.
Ordinarily these characteristics wont vary in wild animals barring melanism or crosses between species, or at least that has been my limited observations.
I find it very interesting how much this cat resembles the London Lynx. Only a few Bobcats share this dark spotted coat seen here. As I had mentioned, this cat has a black nose and foot-pads. I would be curious whether the London cat shared the same.
Ben Willis This is a picture of the head and face of the recent bobcat road-kill. Other than the thicker coat on Lara the lynx, the animals are almost identical. Of course the coats are seasonal. The darker, or black nose is what I was most interested in, and I see they share the same.
Ben Willis
Further reading
Nowell, K. and Jackson, P. (Eds) (1993) Wild Cats. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
Regan, T. and Maehr, D. (1990) Melanistic bobcats in Florida. Florida Field Nat. 18: 84-87.
Schantz, V.S. (1039) A white footed bobcat. J. Mammal. 20: 106.
Ulmer, F.A. Jr. (1941) Melanism in the Felidae, with special reference to the genus Lynx. J. Mammal. 22: 285-288.
Young, S.P. (1958) The bobcat of North America: its history, life, habits, economic status and control. Wildlife Management Institute, Washington DC.
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