Lynx

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A lynx, f, is a type of monster that appears in NetHack. The lynx is a large, quadrupedal feline animal that is carnivorous and can be seen via infravision like all felines.

A lynx has two claw attacks and a bite attack.

The following information pertains to an upcoming version (NetHack 3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that the information below is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate it.

Per commit 7817e69c, lynxes and other felines have infravision.

Generation

Randomly generated lynxes are always created hostile.

Strategy

Lynxes are slightly stronger than jaguars and also possess 15 speed, making them hazardous for heroes with low HP, poor AC and/or a lack of reliable weaponry.

History

The lynx first appears in SLASH 6, and makes its vanilla NetHack debut in NetHack 3.3.0.

Origin

A lynx (plural "lynx" or "lynxes") is any of the four extant species of medium-sized wild cat within the genus Lynx: the Canada lynx, Iberian lynx, Eurasian lynx and bobcat. Lynx have a short tail, characteristic tufts of black hair on the tips of their ears, large and padded paws for walking on snow, and long whiskers on the face; under their neck, they have a ruff with black bars resembling a bow tie, although this is often not visible. The fur of a lynx varies in color from medium brown to goldish to beige-white, and is occasionally marked with dark brown spots, especially on the limbs. All species of lynx have white fur on their chests, bellies and on the insides of their legs.

Lynx are usually solitary, although a small group may travel and hunt together occasionally. Their habitat is spread across much of the northern hemisphere: the Eurasian lynx in particular ranges from central and northern Europe to Northern Pakistan and India; the endangered Iberian lynx lives in southern Spain and some parts of Portugal; the bobcat is common throughout southern Canada, the continental United States and northern Mexico; and the Canada lynx is present mainly in the boreal forests of Canada and Alaska.

The lynx has a prominent role in Greek, Norse, and North American mythology, and is known in some Indigenous American traditions as a 'keeper of secrets'. It is also believed to have supernatural eyesight, capable of seeing even through solid objects, and often symbolizes the unraveling of hidden truths and the psychic power of clairvoyance.

Variants

UnNetHack

In UnNetHack, lynxes appear among the random f that are part of the second quest monster class for Cavepeople and make up 6175 (3%) of the monsters randomly generated on the Caveman quest.

dNetHack

In dNetHack, notdNetHack and notnotdNetHack, lynxes are chaotic and their attacks deal less damage.

The Cartouche of the Cat Lord is a ward that can pacify hostile lynxes which see it, returning them to full health if successful. The Toustefna is a stave that can scare off lynxes if carved into a wood weapon placed on the hero's square.

EvilHack

In EvilHack, lynxes have infravision.

SlashTHEM

In SlashTHEM, lynxes appear among the random f that are part of the second quest monster class for Cavepeople and make up 6175 (3%) of the monsters randomly generated on the Caveman quest, as in UnNetHack. Lynxes also appear among the random f that are part of the first quest monster class for Zookeepers and make up 24175 (14%) of the monsters randomly generated on the Zookeeper quest.

Hack'EM

In Hack'EM, lynxes have infravision and can jump after their targets.

Encyclopedia entry

To dream of seeing a lynx, enemies are undermining your
business and disrupting your home affairs. For a woman,
this dream indicates that she has a wary woman rivaling her
in the affections of her lover. If she kills the lynx, she
will overcome her rival.
[ 10,000 Dreams Interpreted, by Gustavus Hindman Miller ]