New Cat Species Identified in Bolivia, First in over a Century
- Researchers published a study on Thursday in Current Biology identifying Leopardus tilcayo as a new tiger cat species, marking the first novel feline discovered in over 100 years.
- Biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, a National Geographic Explorer, began investigating the 'weird cat' after receiving a 2016 call from a Bolivian wildlife sanctuary; the animal had been mistaken for a domestic kitten.
- Genomic comparisons revealed L. tilcayo diverged from other lineages around 1.4 million years ago and inhabits Bolivia's Yungas cloud forest, weighing just 3 to 4 pounds and smaller than a house cat.
- Evolutionary biologist Jonas Lescroart from the University of Antwerp said the discovery "is definitely expected to increase conservation attention," with researchers calling for re-evaluation of species previously grouped under a single label.
- Future research will install camera traps in Bolivia's Yungas region to track L. tilcayo populations while preserving traditional knowledge; local communities have recognized the cat as 'tilcayo' for generations.
104 Articles
104 Articles
A small predator living in the mountain forests of Bolivia has been recognized as a new species, marking the first time in over a century that such a mammal is formally described. (ANSA)
In the painful forests, Youngs was infected with a new species of wild cat, which is smaller than the average domestic kitten, writes The Guardian. The miniature wild cat, inhabiting the regional forests of Bolivia, was designated as an unfamiliar species. This is the first case for more than a century, when scientists officially named and described a new modern type of cat family. The cat, which local communities call tilcayo (tilcayo), belongs…
New cat species identified for first time in 100 years — it’s 3 pounds and looks like a mini leopard
The adorable feline was identified in Bolivia's lush Yungas forest after biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz was called about "a weird cat" given to a local wildlife sanctuary.
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