New Wild Cat Species Identified in Bolivia After Century-Long Gap

Scientists have identified a new wild cat species, Leopardus tilcayo, in Bolivia's Yungas cloud forest, marking the first new living cat species described in over a century. Previously classified as a northern tiger cat, genetic analysis shows it diverged from other Leopardus species 1.4 million years ago. The discovery also revealed a new subspecies, Leopardus tigrinus antisuyo, in Peru.

The identification relied on just two live specimens in Bolivia: a wild-caught individual and a 10-year-old male named Tigrino living at the Senda Verde wildlife refuge. Tigrino was originally found by a local resident who mistook the kitten for a domestic cat and raised it for over a year before surrendering it to the sanctuary in 2017.

“It's incredible that there are still new species waiting to be discovered; you don't have to go to a volcano, an island, or the depths of the ocean to find them.”

Weighing only 1.4 to 2 kilograms and measuring up to 50 centimeters in body length, the Tilcayo is smaller than a typical house cat. Researchers note its distinct vocalizations and predatory behavior, such as stalking chickens, which differentiated it from domestic felines. Fecal samples suggest a diet of small rodents, and camera traps indicate nocturnal activity.

The study, led by Eduardo Eizirik, Jonas Lescroart, and National Geographic Explorer Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, resolves a long-standing taxonomic debate over the tiger cat complex. Tiger cats are considered cryptic species, nearly indistinguishable by appearance alone, and have received far less conservation attention than large felines.

Scientists hope the discovery will spur conservation efforts for tiger cats across Central and South America. Current knowledge remains limited to the two examined individuals and a small number of camera trap records, highlighting how much remains unknown about South American mammals.