New Cat Species Identified in Bolivia After Century-Long Gap

Scientists have formally described Leopardus tilcayo, the first new living feline species in more than a century, from Bolivia’s Yungas cloud forests.

The three-pound spotted cat, known locally as tilcayo, was identified through genetic analysis of a former pet named Tigrino and museum specimens. The study in Current Biology found it diverged from relatives about 1.4 million years ago.

Researchers said local communities long knew the animal. It measures roughly 18 inches and has larger rosettes than close tiger-cat kin. Camera traps are planned to document wild individuals.