Interspecific Variation in the Relationships of Mating Partners in Felids

Data are presented on the variation in the relationships of males and females in felids with different degrees of sexual dimorphism in body size. It was shown that, in the mating season of the Eurasian lynx, a species with the least sexual dimorphism, females determined the relationships with the partner to a large extent. These interactions were characterized by a high frequency of affiliative behavior and courtship elements, while the frequency of aggressive contact was very low. In species with a higher level of sexual dimorphism, the relationships of the partners were determined mainly by males.