A team of biologists has described Leopardus tilcayo, the first new living feline species identified in over 100 years, found in Bolivia's Yungas cloud forests. Genetic tests published in Current Biology confirm it as a distinct species; the cat weighs about 5 pounds and has a small spotted coat. Researchers have directly examined only two live individuals and a handful of camera-trap records, and genomic analysis adds new branches to the cat family tree. Scientists warn the discovery underscores urgent conservation needs for endangered habitats that may hide other undiscovered species.
Tiny 'Tiger Cat' Leopardus tilcayo Named — First New Living Feline Species In Over 100 Years
A Leopardus tilcayo cat walks at the Senda Verde animal refuge in the Yungas region, Bolivia. | Credit: Fernando Faciole / National Geographic / Handout via Reuters
A small, spotted cat discovered in Bolivia's cloud forests has been confirmed as a distinct species, marking the first new living feline described in more than a century. Researchers have named the animal Leopardus tilcayo after genomic and morphological analyses published in the journal Current Biology.
Image: A Leopardus tilcayo at the Senda Verde animal refuge in Bolivia's Yungas region. Credit: Fernando Faciole / National Geographic / Reuters
Weighing roughly 5 pounds (about 2.3 kg) and covered in small rosettes and spots, the cat has been likened to "a leopard that shrank to the size of a house kitten," according to The Washington Post. Scientists emphasize that much about the species remains unknown: to date they have directly examined two live individuals and reviewed a limited number of camera-trap records.
Study co-lead author Jonas Lescroart of the University of Antwerp said, 'Our information at this moment is limited to the two live individuals that we examined, and a small number of camera-trap records.' The discovery is notable not only for adding a new species to the Felidae family but also for the way genomic analysis reshapes the cat family tree by revealing previously unrecognized evolutionary branches.
Study co-author Eduardo Eizirik stressed the conservation implications: 'Showing the public that new species can still be found among a flagship group such as cats sends an important message — unless we preserve endangered habitats, many undiscovered species are at risk of disappearing before we even discover them.' The researchers called for targeted surveys, habitat protection, and further genetic and ecological study to determine the cat's range, population size, and conservation status.
What we know: Leopardus tilcayo lives in cloud forest habitat in Bolivia's Yungas, has been confirmed by genetic testing, and appears to be a small, elusive wild cat. Additional fieldwork is needed to assess threats, estimate population size, and guide conservation measures.
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