New cat species identified in Bolivia, first in over a century
Genetic analysis of 38 cat samples showed tiger cats are five species, and the Tilcayo is the first new living feline named 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.
218 Articles
218 Articles
For decades, an animal that scientists thought they already knew about lurked in the forests of Bolivia. But DNA analysis has now revealed a surprising truth: a cat that looks similar to other South American wildcats is actually an entirely new species. Scientists have discovered a new species of wildcat for the first time in more than 100 years.
Leopardus tilcayo is a little smaller than a domestic cat, with about 45 centimetres long, and was first taken for a pet.
What the life of the new tiger cat looks like is still a mystery. "We still have no idea about many things," says Paola Nogales Ascarrunz, who was the first to realize that the tilcayo was an undescribed species.
It's small, has leopard-like fur, and lives in the Andes near La Paz. A new species of cat, the first in over a century, has been discovered in Bolivia.
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