Scientists Confirm 5-Pound Leopardus tilcayo in Bolivia, First New Feline Species in 100 Years
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 17
Scientists Confirm 5-Pound Leopardus tilcayo in Bolivia, First New Feline Species in 100 Years
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 17
Summary
Leopardus tilcayo was confirmed in a Current Biology study as a distinct wildcat in Bolivia, marking the first newly recognized feline species worldwide in more than a century.
The roughly 5-pound cat has a slender body, light brown coat and dark rosettes, giving it the look of a miniature leopard.
Scientists said DNA analysis established it as a separate species within the Leopardus genus; earlier reporting said only one living individual is known.
The find sharpens calls to protect small wild cats in Bolivia and suggests the tiger-cat branch may be more diverse than previously thought.
What happens when a common cat species is suddenly split by DNA, leaving the newly discovered fragments facing immediate extinction?
If a new wild predator hid in plain sight for a century, what other mysterious creatures are quietly vanishing in threatened forests?
Five Tiger Cats, Not One: The 2024 Genomic Breakthrough That Revealed Leopardus tilcayo and a Hidden Conservation Emergency
Overview
The discovery of Leopardus tilcayo began when a Bolivian man found a wild kitten and raised it at home, later surrendering it to a sanctuary. Biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz noticed the cat’s unusual features and, after initial confusion with genetic tests, teamed up with other scientists for a full genomic analysis. This revealed the cat was a new species, diverged from its relatives 1.4 million years ago. Modern genomics split what was thought to be one widespread tiger cat into five distinct, vulnerable species. Now, urgent conservation efforts are underway as habitat loss threatens the newly recognized Leopardus tilcayo.