New Bolivian cat claws its way into species list: What we meow

A new species of wildcat, named *Leopardus tilcayo*, has been formally identified in Bolivia's Yungas cloud forest region. This discovery, announced in *Current Biology*, marks the first new cat species identified in over a century, with the last being the pampas cat in 1923. The research, led by Paola Nogales Ascarrunz, was prompted by the accidental discovery of a lost kitten and involved nearly ten years of genetic analysis, including DNA from museum specimens. Local people were aware of the animal, but it had never been scientifically described. The *Leopardus tilcayo* is genetically confirmed in Bolivia and inhabits a transitional zone between the Andes mountains and the Amazon basin.

A new species of wild cat, *Leopardus tilcayo*, has been identified in Bolivia's cloud forests, marking the first new living feline species named and described in over a century. Locally known as "tilcayo," this small cat, measuring about 46cm long and weighing 1.4kg, was discovered in the Yungas forest region. Researchers were prompted to investigate because the cat's characteristics did not align with existing descriptions of other tiger cats, which are known for being cryptic species difficult to distinguish by appearance alone. Initial observations suggest a diet of small rodents and nocturnal activity. The study describing this new species was published in the journal *Current Biology*.

Researchers have identified a new wild cat species, the Tilcaya cat (Leopardus tilcayo), in Bolivia. This discovery, published in Current Biology, arose from a global effort to investigate the family history of tiger cats using DNA analysis. The study suggests there are actually five tiger cat species, not three, with the Tilcaya cat being the newly described one. This finding highlights the ongoing potential for biodiversity discoveries in less-studied regions. The researchers emphasize that identifying species is crucial for conservation, as it's impossible to protect what is unknown. Tiger cats are vulnerable to extinction due to habitat loss and hunting, and the new species was previously unassessed.

Researchers have identified a new species of wild cat, named *Leopardus tilcayo*, in Bolivia's Yungas forest. This marks the first formal description of a new living cat species in over a century. The diminutive cat, known locally as tilcayo, is smaller than a domestic cat and is part of the tiger cat group. Genetic analysis confirmed its distinct species status, separating it from other tiger cats approximately 1.4 million years ago. The discovery highlights that tiger cats are actually five genetically distinct species, not one as previously thought. The researchers have shared their findings with the IUCN, which may lead to a more accurate assessment of the tilcayo's conservation status amidst threats to its Yungas forest habitat.

Researchers have identified a new species of diminutive wild cat in Bolivia's cloud forest, marking the first formal description of a new living cat species in over a century. Locally known as the Tilcayo, this small feline, measuring about 18 inches long and weighing around three pounds, belongs to the tiger cat group found throughout South America. Its discovery was made in the humid Yungas forest region of Bolivia. Genetic data was utilized by researchers to confirm its status as a distinct species, and it has been given the scientific name *Leopardus tilcayo*, honoring its local name.