New Cat Species Identified in Bolivia, First in over a Century
- Researchers published a study on Thursday in Current Biology identifying Leopardus tilcayo as a new tiger cat species, marking the first novel feline discovered in over 100 years.
- Biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, a National Geographic Explorer, began investigating the 'weird cat' after receiving a 2016 call from a Bolivian wildlife sanctuary; the animal had been mistaken for a domestic kitten.
- Genomic comparisons revealed L. tilcayo diverged from other lineages around 1.4 million years ago and inhabits Bolivia's Yungas cloud forest, weighing just 3 to 4 pounds and smaller than a house cat.
- Evolutionary biologist Jonas Lescroart from the University of Antwerp said the discovery "is definitely expected to increase conservation attention," with researchers calling for re-evaluation of species previously grouped under a single label.
- Future research will install camera traps in Bolivia's Yungas region to track L. tilcayo populations while preserving traditional knowledge; local communities have recognized the cat as 'tilcayo' for generations.
188 Articles
188 Articles
Little is known about it for now.
Scientists have discovered a new kind of cat in Latin America, so the cat family has grown in numbers for the first time in 100 years.
A new species of wild feline was discovered in Bolivia, a world premiere after more than a century, told AFP a biologist who was among Bolivian researchers who participated in the discovery, according to Agerpres.
The species, named Leopardus tilcayo or cat tilcayo, was identified by DNA analysis of historical specimens preserved in museums and samples of live animals, according to National GeographicKorean scientists discover a new species of mollusk that has barely changed in 300 million years An international team of scientists identified a new species of wild feline in the cloudy forests of the Yungas of Bolivia, a finding that represents the first sc…
The “hidden” tigress of the Junga forests is about 46 centimeters long and weighs only 1.4 kilograms
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