Bolivia discovers new feline species Leopardus tilcayo

Scientists have identified a new species of wild feline, Leopardus tilcayo, in the cloud forests of Los Yungas, Bolivia. This marks the first new feline species described by science in over a century.

The discovery was made possible through extensive genetic research and genome analysis of 38 specimens, including historical museum samples. The species, locally known as the ‘tilcayo’, is a small ‘tiger cat’ that is even smaller than most domestic cats, weighing approximately 1.3 kilograms.

The holotype specimen is currently housed at the Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary, where it was brought after being rescued from a local family who had initially mistaken it for a domestic cat. Researchers noted that the species is part of a complex group of tiger cats that were previously misclassified due to their similar appearance.

In response to the discovery, Bolivian Deputy Freddy Villalobos has introduced a legislative project to declare the tilcayo a national natural heritage and a symbol of the country’s biodiversity. Conservationists warn that the species faces significant threats from deforestation, fires, and habitat loss in the fragile Yungas ecosystem.