A new wild cat species has been formally identified in Bolivia, marking the first discovery and naming of a living feline species in more than a century. Named Leopardus tilcayo, the small cat inhabits the Yungas cloud forests, a mountainous region known for high humidity and dense forest cover.
Researchers used genetic analysis to establish that the Bolivian tiger cat is distinct from other closely related species. The L. tilcayo lineage is estimated to have diverged from other tiger cats around 1.4 million years ago.
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Measuring about 46 cm in length and weighing roughly 1.4 kg, the cat is smaller than an average domestic cat. It has light-brown fur marked with irregular rosettes. Researchers currently know little about its behaviour, although camera-trap records suggest it may be more active at night, while scat samples indicate small rodents could form part of its diet.
The study analysed DNA from 38 cats across South America and found that tiger cats comprise five genetically distinct species. Researchers also identified a new subspecies in Peru.
The discovery comes as the Yungas faces threats from deforestation, agriculture, fires and mining, raising concerns about the newly identified species’ conservation status.
