SPECIFIC FIGHTS OF YOUNG LYNXES (FELIS-LY NX, CARNIVORA, FELIDAE)

Specific fights of six to nine weeks old sibling-kittens of European l ynx were observed. These fights led to significant traumas and sometim es to death of one of lynxcubs. Such skirmishes were described in 4 ou t of 10 litters. All the fights began spontaneously in litters, where aggressive interactions among kittens were never observed before. The initiators of aggression could be both males and females. An attacking kitten tried to bite the occiput of a subling. The females tried to s top the fights, but often unsuccessfully. The causes of this phenomeno n are not clear yet. The probability of spontaneous aggressive interac tions among the sibs did not correlate with the sex of a cub and with abundance of forage. The aggressive cub was the most developed one in a litter.