The video, which was taken by Thomas Jung, who works for the Government of Yukon, has shocked scientists all over the world.
Lynx canadensis, or the Canada lynx, is a species that lives in North America, in parts of the United States and Canada. People say that some members of this species have black fur, even though most of them have light brownish-gray hair. That being said, this is the first picture of a black Canada lynx.
The footage was taken in a rural neighborhood close to Whitehorse, Yukon. From about 50 meters away, the lynx can be seen resting before running away when a dog starts to bark. The Canada lynx is said to be lone and private, according to experts.
Experts have been able to tell that the animal is a Canada lynx even though the video isn’t very clear or stable. There were also whitish gray hairs on the lynx’s face, rostrum, and dorsal area.
An article in the journal Mammalia called “Paint it black: first record of melanism in Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis)” talks about the finding. Many animals have dark fur because they have a disease called melananism, which causes too much melanin. Scientists have not yet proven whether this is good or bad. Jung, on the other hand, thinks that the lynx’s black hair might not be good for it because it would make it stand out when it’s hunting in the snow.
Scientists and animal lovers are amazed by the rare video. This finding shows how important it is to keep studying and exploring nature and all the amazing things that are still out there for us to find.
