Scientists have identified a new wild cat species in Bolivia, marking the first formal description of a living feline species in more than 100 years. The species has been named Leopardus tilcayo, after the name local communities have used for the animal.
The small spotted cat lives in Bolivia’s Yungas cloud forests on the eastern side of the Andes. It measures about 46 centimetres in body length and weighs around 1.4 kilograms, making it smaller than an average domestic cat. Its light brown coat has dark, irregular rosette patterns.
Researchers initially thought the animal belonged to another tiger cat species. However, genetic testing showed that it is a separate species. Scientists studied DNA from 38 cats and found that the newly identified species separated from other tiger cats about 1.4 million years ago.
The research was published in Current Biology on September 17. Scientists say very little is known about the species, including its population size and behaviour, highlighting the need for further research and conservation work.
