Tilcayo cat identified as new species in Bolivia

Scientists have formally identified the Tilcayo cat (Leopardus tilcayo), a small spotted wildcat native to the Yungas cloud forests of Bolivia. This discovery marks the first time a new living wild cat species has been described in more than a century.

Published in the journal Current Biology, the research utilized genetic analysis to reveal that the South American tiger cat group actually consists of multiple distinct species. The Tilcayo, which is smaller than a typical domestic cat and weighs approximately 1.4 kilograms, was previously known to local communities but had not been formally recognized by the scientific community.

The identification process gained momentum after a rescued kitten, known locally as Tigrino, was brought to the Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary, helping researchers distinguish the animal from domestic and other wild feline varieties.