A small wild cat living in Bolivia’s cloud forest has been recognized as a previously unidentified species, representing the first instance of a new living cat species being officially classified in over a century. Known as Tilcayo by local communities, this cat belongs to a group of tiger cats found throughout much of South America. Discovered in Bolivia’s dense Yungas forest, researchers noted that it is smaller than the average domestic cat, measuring about 46 centimeters in length and weighing around three pounds.
Using genetic data, scientists confirmed the cat as a new species and named it Leopardus tilcayo while retaining its local designation. The cat’s fur is light brown with unique rosettes across its body, as described by Paola Nogales Ascarrunz, a National Geographic explorer involved in the study. Limited information is available about the cat’s biology and behavior, although evidence from scat samples suggests a diet of small rodents and camera-trap data hints at nocturnal activity.
Tiger cats are considered cryptic species, challenging to distinguish based solely on appearance, according to evolutionary biologist Jonas Lescroart from the University of Antwerp in Belgium. Previous genetic studies indicated the presence of multiple tiger cat species, contrary to the belief that they were a single species.
The study highlighted a new tiger cat subspecies in Peru’s Yungas, named Leopardus tigrinus antisuyo after the region of the old Inca Empire where it resides. The researchers emphasized the importance of assessing each of the five distinct tiger cat lineages separately for a more accurate conservation evaluation, especially considering the potential endangered status of species like Tilcayo.
Amidst threats to the Yungas ecosystem from deforestation, agriculture, fires, and mining, urgent conservation measures are needed to protect these newly discovered species. Researchers stress the significance of raising awareness about undiscovered species and the pressing need to safeguard their habitats before they disappear.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list currently categorizes tiger cats as two “vulnerable” species with declining populations. The researchers have informed the IUCN of their findings, which could lead to a reevaluation of the conservation status of these unique cat species.
