Bolivia’s Tilcayo Tiger Cat Revealed as New Species

Researchers have identified a previously unknown tiger cat species in Bolivia’s Yungas cloud forests, the first living feline species to be formally named and described in more than a century. The small cat, known locally as “tilcayo,” has been given the scientific name Leopardus tilcayo. It measures approximately 46 centimetres long and weighs about 1.4 kilograms, making it smaller than an average domestic cat. Its light-brown fur is marked with irregular rosettes. The discovery was led by National Geographic Explorer Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, with evolutionary biologist Jonas Lescroart of the University of Antwerp serving as a study co-lead author. Researchers became interested in the Bolivian population because its physical characteristics did not correspond to descriptions largely based on tiger cats from Brazil. The team subsequently analysed DNA from 38 cats across several South American countries, including eight museum specimens. The genetic analysis found that tiger cats comprise five genetically distinct species. The Bolivian cat’s lineage diverged from other tiger cats roughly 1.4 million years ago. Tiger cats are considered “cryptic species” because they can look very similar despite being genetically distinct, making them difficult to identify through appearance alone. Little is currently known about Leopardus tilcayo’s behaviour or ecology. Scat samples contained remains of small rodents, suggesting they may be part of its diet, while camera-trap images indicate the cat may be primarily nocturnal. The researchers also described a new tiger cat subspecies in Peru’s Yungas region, naming it Leopardus tigrinus antisuyo after Antisuyu, an area of the former Inca Empire. The findings were published in the journal Current Biology.

Scientists have confirmed that a small spotted wildcat found in Bolivia is a previously unrecognised species, named Leopardus tilcayo, or the Tilcaya cat. The discovery was made after researchers noticed that a 10-year-old cat living in a Bolivian wildlife sanctuary looked different from other tiger cats. The animal, nicknamed Tigrino, had originally been found in a forest by a local resident who believed it was a domestic kitten. As it matured, its appearance and behaviour suggested that it was a wild species. Researchers from Bolivia, Brazil and the UK investigated the animal’s evolutionary history by comparing DNA from living cats and museum specimens. Their study, published in Current Biology, indicates that there may be five tiger cat species rather than the three previously recognised. Tiger cats are small, spotted felines found across Central and South America, but their similar markings and limited representation in museum collections have made them difficult to distinguish. Only one confirmed living member of the new species is currently known, although scientists believe other Tilcaya cats may exist in Bolivia’s Yungas forests. Researchers say the discovery demonstrates how much biodiversity remains undocumented, even among animals that are similar in size to domestic cats. It also has important conservation implications: a species cannot be effectively protected unless scientists know what it is, where it lives and what threats it faces. Tiger cats are considered vulnerable because of deforestation, habitat loss and illegal hunting. The new species was not included in earlier conservation assessments. The finding may also increase the recognised number of living cat species from 41 to 44 or 45. Experts describe tiger-cat classification as a long-standing taxonomic challenge and hope the discovery will generate greater attention for these lesser-known wild cats.

Researchers have identified a previously unknown tiger cat species in Bolivia’s cloud forests, the first living cat species to be formally named and described in more than a century. Named Tilcayo by local communities and scientifically classified as Leopardus tilcayo, the small cat inhabits the mountainous Yungas region. It is about 46 centimetres long and weighs roughly three pounds, making it smaller than an average domestic cat. Its light-brown coat has irregular rosettes. The discovery was made through genetic analysis after researchers noticed that Bolivian tiger cats did not match descriptions largely based on Brazilian animals. The team examined DNA from 38 cats across several South American countries, including museum specimens, and determined that tiger cats comprise five genetically distinct species. The Tilcayo lineage diverged from other tiger cats approximately 1.4 million years ago. Researchers also identified a new subspecies in Peru’s Yungas, Leopardus tigrinus antisuyo. Knowledge about the new species remains limited. Only two live individuals have been examined, and researchers have a small number of camera-trap records. Scat suggests the cats eat small rodents, while camera footage indicates they may be primarily nocturnal. One known individual, a 10-year-old male, lives at the Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary after previously being kept by a local family. The researchers have informed the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which will assess the five tiger-cat lineages separately. The new species could ultimately be classified as endangered, particularly because the Yungas faces deforestation, agricultural expansion, fires and mining. Scientists say protecting remaining forest, restoring fire-damaged areas and maintaining habitat connections are urgent priorities. They also stress that many species may disappear before they are discovered.

Scientists have identified a previously unknown wild cat species in Bolivia, the first new feline species to be formally described in more than a century. Named the Tilcayo tiger cat, or Leopardus tilcayo, the animal was found in the mountainous Yungas region near La Paz. Local residents had seen the small, spotted cat in the Bolivian Andes but initially mistook it for a domestic cat. Its common name comes from the nickname “tilcayo” used by local people. The species is slightly smaller than a typical house cat, measuring about 18 inches, and has rounded ears and a leopard-like spotted coat. Only two tilcayos have been found so far. Researchers conducted whole genome sequencing on both animals to help establish that they represent a distinct species. The research was led in part by biologist and National Geographic Explorer Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz. One male is currently living at an animal shelter in Yungas after being surrendered by a family that had taken it in. A female was rescued after being attacked by local people and was later released back into the wild. Scientists began studying the animals in 2021, and their findings were published in the journal Current Biology. Nogales-Ascarrunz called the discovery a remarkable event, noting that the last feline species described was the Uruguayan pampas cat in 1923. The Tilcayo tiger cat has so far been detected only in Bolivia. Researchers have classified it as vulnerable to extinction, but they warn that its apparently small population could lead to an even higher risk of extinction in the future. The discovery therefore combines scientific significance with an urgent need for further research and conservation efforts.

Scientists in Bolivia have identified a previously unknown species of small wild cat, naming it Leopardus tilcayo after the nickname used by local communities. The cat was found in Bolivia’s remote Yungas forest, on the eastern slopes of the Andes. It is approximately 46 centimeters long and weighs about 1.4 kilograms, making it smaller than an average domestic cat. Its light-brown fur is marked by irregular rosettes, giving it a leopard-like appearance. The discovery was led by biologist and National Geographic Explorer Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz. She first encountered the animal in 2016 after a wildlife sanctuary contacted her about a “weird cat.” Although she initially photographed the animal out of curiosity, subsequent research showed that it did not match any previously documented feline species. Nogales-Ascarrunz described the finding as especially significant because no new wild cat species had been formally described in roughly a century; the last was the Uruguayan pampas cat in 1923. The research, published in the journal Current Biology, used genetic analysis conducted with evolutionary geneticist Eduardo Eizirik and researcher Jonas Lescroart of the University of Antwerp. Whole-genome sequencing has been completed for two tilcayos, which are currently the only known examples of the species. So far, the animal has been detected only in Bolivia. Researchers say the discovery demonstrates that unknown species remain to be found, even among well-studied groups such as cats. Eizirik also warned that many undiscovered species could disappear before scientists have an opportunity to identify them, highlighting the importance of biodiversity research and conservation.

Researchers have identified Leopardus tilcayo, a previously unknown species of tiger cat found in Bolivia’s Yungas forest. The discovery marks the first identification of a new cat species in more than 100 years, since the pampas cat was recognized in 1923. The animal weighs approximately three pounds, measures about 18 inches long, and has light-brown fur marked with leopard-like rosettes. Its small size, rounded ears, and compact face make it smaller than an average domestic cat and visually distinctive from other members of the Leopardus genus. The discovery began when biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz was contacted about a “weird cat” brought to a wildlife sanctuary. A local man had found the animal beside a road and initially believed it was a domestic cat. After keeping it for about a year, he transferred it to the sanctuary. Nogales-Ascarrunz photographed the animal in 2019 while preparing a booklet about Bolivia’s wild cats and noticed that it did not resemble known species. She later collaborated with geneticist Eduardo Eizirik and study co-lead Jonas Lescroart to investigate the animal. Genetic analysis indicated that the tilcayo lineage separated from other tiger cats roughly 1.4 million years ago, supporting its classification as a distinct species. The researchers published their findings in Current Biology. Much remains unknown about Leopardus tilcayo, including its population size, diet, reproductive patterns, and daily behavior in the wild. Researchers say the discovery demonstrates that additional undescribed species may remain hidden in remote ecosystems, especially complex mountain forests. They hope the methods used in the study will help identify other species and strengthen conservation efforts for both known and undiscovered wildlife.