Text written in Basque and translated automatically by Elia without any subsequent editing. SEE ORIGINAL

Photo of the week: north lynx and Iberian lynx in Navarre

In the sima of Serpent, in the cave of Mezkiritz (Navarra), the bones of three lynxes from 10,500 and 400 years ago appear, and from their analysis it is known that at that time the lynx of the north lived in Euskal Herria (Lynx Lynx).

It is believed that the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardina) also lived here at the time, so both species lived at the same time. They think there was a hybridization between them. In fact, two of the three lynxes have been found to be clear northern lynxes, but the third had morphological characteristics of the Iberian lynx, although the mitochondrial DNA belonged to the northern lynx. He is believed to have a North Lynx mother and an Iberian lynx father.

Scientists have previously thought that the two species hybridized in the past, but no fossil evidence of this has ever been found, so far. The study involved Juan Luis Arsuaga, Arantza Aranburu, geologist at the UPV/EHU, and Juantxo Agirre, general secretary of Aranzadi, among others.