Thomas Jung is a wildlife biologist. He works for the Yukon Government’s Department of Environment. He managed to film a 30-second video of a black-furred Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis). It is the first video of a black lynx
Their fur is usually silvery gray in winter and a darker reddish brown in summer. Therefore, seeing a black Canada lynx is of great interest to experts. “There are few records of coat color polymorphisms in the genus Lynx,” Jung says. He observed the animal from a distance of about 50 meters.

Brief sighting
A black Canada lynx has much more difficulty in camouflaging itself. It does not find it easy to hunt prey such as the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus). It might explain why there are not many felines with this coat color out there. The first video of a black lynx could be one of the few that exist in history.
The sighting was very brief. No detailed examination of the lynx’s coat color was possible. The images are quite shaky and pixelated. But several experts confirmed that the creature is indeed a Canada lynx.
“It had black fur. And whitish gray hairs all over the body. As well as whitish gray hairs on the facial collar and on the dorsal and rostrum regions,” reports Jung.
Variation in coat color within mammalian species is of continuing interest. In different circumstances, it may be an evolutionary benefit to the animals concerned (adaptive). Or it may confer a disadvantage (maladaptive).

The importance of color
It is not known whether melanism in any lynx species is adaptive or maladaptive. Jung suggests that the black lynx’s loss of camouflage when hunting in snow is maladaptive. The dark color could put the animal at a distinct disadvantage when hunting hares in winter.
Throughout the animal kingdom, camouflage and colors are vital. By blending into the background they can help to sneak up on prey. Bright colors that stand out can help attract mates (or scare off predators).