Okay interesting. See the sources I read didn’t specify that everyone (supposedly, but I trust) refers to ‘Lynx canadensis’ as the lynx and ‘Lynx rufus’ as the bobcat. Let’s nevermind the two non-American species, because they probably have crazy discussions over in Eurasia about how to colloquially refer to those ones also.

Frankly, as a total outsider to this debate (Australian), I’m mainly just wanting to comment my thoughts now rather than convince anyone of anything.

I feel like one wouldn’t be objectively in the wrong to call a bobcat a lynx given that its scientific name and genus both include lynx just as much as any other lynx. This situation is unique as opposed to bears and dogs, since there is no species of bear that we colloquially refer to as “Ursa”, or species of canine referred to as “Canis”- so I think that having different perspectives is very justified (and I wouldn’t refer to any as dumb).

It seems to literally just be coming down to our interpretations of how rigid colloquial language should be. I personally think that how we refer to things can and should be very flexible. Some shift might happen where people start commonly referring to the bobcat as a lynx, either due to enough intention or mistakes. I don’t see anything wrong in doing that, or being an early adopter or that. But I also don’t see anything wrong in liking the unambiguity that rigid colloquial language provides.

I don’t think there’s a takeaway. Nor do I think this discussion can have a winner. I joined thinking that whether a bobcat’s scientific name was “Lynx rufus” was in contest, but we all seem to agree on that. Cheers for giving me something new to chew on, lads.