Newly Identified Bolivian Cat Species, the Tilcayo, Marks First Wild Discovery in 100 Years
Scientists have formally described a previously unknown tiger cat from Bolivia’s Yungas cloud forest, the first new wild cat species identified in over a century.
A team of scientists, including National Geographic explorer Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, has officially described Leopardus tilcayo, a new tiger-cat species from Bolivia’s Yungas cloud forests. The animal, smaller than a domestic cat at roughly 1.4 kg, bears rounded ears, a slender build and large spotted fur. Its name derives from the local word “tilcayo,” honoring indigenous knowledge.
The discovery arose when a Bolivian family brought their rescued kitten, Tigrino, to the Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary; genetic analysis of Tigrino and a hair from another rescued individual showed the cat diverged from other tiger cats around 1.4 million years ago, far earlier than expected. The research, published in Current Biology on September 17, adds to recent taxonomic reshuffling that has identified at least four distinct small-cat species in the region. The tilcayo is the first living cat species newly described since the Uruguayan pampas cat in 1923.
Why it matters
It reveals a previously unknown wild cat, highlighting biodiversity and the importance of local knowledge.
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