New Wild Cat Species Discovered After Hiding in Plain Sight for More than a Century
Whole-genome comparisons showed the cat diverged from other tiger-cat lineages about 1.4 million years ago, researchers said.
- On Thursday, a study in Current Biology confirmed Leopardus tilcayo as a new wild cat species discovered in Bolivia's Yungas Forest. The 10-year-old male weighs three pounds and measures 18 inches from head to body.
- The discovery began in 2016 when a resident found the kitten in the forest; CAMA biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz later analyzed genomes of 38 tiger cats to confirm the unique lineage.
- Genomic testing revealed the species diverged from other tiger cat lineages about 1.4 million years ago, a finding researchers from the University of Oxford say highlights hidden biodiversity in less-studied regions.
- This discovery expands the known Felidae family from 41 species to 44 or more, while tiger cats face ongoing threats from deforestation, habitat loss and illegal hunting.
- Local Bolivian communities have known of the cat for generations; researchers named it Leopardus tilcayo to honor their heritage. Conservation geneticist Eduardo Eizirik noted it remained hidden because "nobody was looking.
15 Articles
15 Articles
A small predator living in the mountain forests of Bolivia has been recognized as a new species, marking the first time in over a century that such a mammal is formally described. (ANSA)
In the painful forests, Youngs was infected with a new species of wild cat, which is smaller than the average domestic kitten, writes The Guardian. The miniature wild cat, inhabiting the regional forests of Bolivia, was designated as an unfamiliar species. This is the first case for more than a century, when scientists officially named and described a new modern type of cat family. The cat, which local communities call tilcayo (tilcayo), belongs…
New wild cat species discovered after hiding in plain sight for more than a century
A new species of wild cat has been discovered by researchers for the first time in over a century. It’s described as slender, covered in leopard-like spots, with short, rounded ears and long whiskers.
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