Leopardus tilcayo

The Leopardus tilcayo, locally known as the tilcayo, is a diminutive wild cat recently identified as a new species inhabiting Bolivia's cloud forest. This discovery is significant as it represents the first formally named and described new living cat species in over a century. The tilcayo belongs to the group of tiger cats, which are found across much of South America. Its habitat is the lush Yungas forest in Bolivia, a mountainous region. The identification of this previously unknown species highlights the ongoing potential for new biological discoveries, even in well-explored regions, and underscores the importance of conservation efforts in biodiversity hotspots like the Yungas. This finding contributes to our understanding of feline diversity and the unique ecosystems of the Andean cloud forests.