A new species of wild cat, known locally as Tilcayo, has been formally identified in Bolivia's Yungas forest. This marks the first time a new living cat species has been named and described in over a century. The diminutive cat, found in the region's cloud forest, measures about 18 inches (46cm) long and weighs approximately 3lbs (1.4kg), making it smaller than an average domestic cat.
Researchers used genetic data to confirm the cat as a new species, giving it the scientific name Leopardus tilcayo. Its fur is light brown with irregularly shaped rosettes across its body, according to Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, a National Geographic explorer and co-author of the study published in Current Biology.
The team analysed DNA from 38 cats across South America, including museum specimens, and found that tiger cats are in fact five genetically distinct species. Genetic analysis suggests the Tilcayo lineage separated from other tiger cats around 1.4 million years ago.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) currently lists tiger cats as two "vulnerable" species. Researchers have shared their findings with the IUCN, whose upcoming review will assess the five lineages separately, potentially leading to species like the Tilcayo being considered endangered.