Scientists discover new cat species in Bolivia
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Biologists in Bolivia discovered a new species of cat living in the Yungas rainforest.
A local man initially found the cat as a kitten, believing it was a domestic cat, before realizing it was a wild animal and alerting authorities. Researchers then studied the animal and formally described it as Leopardus tigrinus antisuyo, named after a region of the Inca empire.
The cat, also known as tilcayo by local Indigenous people, measures about 46 centimeters long and weighs around 1.5 kilograms, similar in size to a typical housecat. Scientists determined this cat is a distinct species after analyzing DNA from 38 ocelots across South America, including museum samples. They found the tilcayo separated genetically from other ocelots approximately 1.4 million years ago. This discovery marks the first new living cat species formally named and described in over a century.
Researchers believe the cat’s cryptic appearance, making it difficult to distinguish from other cats, contributed to it remaining undiscovered for so long. Scientists observed the cat’s possible nocturnal activity through camera traps and believe small rodents form the basis of its diet.
