New cat species discovered, more may follow
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Biologist Tadeu Gomes de Oliveira and colleagues in Bolivia recently described the tilcayo ( Leopardus tilcayo), a new species of small spotted cat from the Yungas cloud forests.
This discovery coincides with a wider effort to reassess the taxonomy of wild cats using genetic research. Oliveira believes the number of recognized tiger-cat species could increase significantly, potentially from three to six or even seven.
He explained that recognizing distinct populations as separate species is crucial for securing targeted conservation funding and protection, particularly for critically endangered groups like the munoai pampas cat, of which only around 200 individuals are estimated to remain. Oliveira, co-chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Cat Specialist Group, detailed how genetic analysis, specifically, measuring the time since populations diverged, is key to determining species status.
He suggested the current standard of one million years of genetic separation may be too strict, and advocated for a lower threshold of 400,000 years. He also discussed ongoing research into margays and other small cats, indicating further species revisions are likely. Jon Ayers, board chair of Panthera, interviewed Oliveira about these taxonomic shifts and the need for a global monitoring program for small wild cats.
This program, formally established this August, aims to track populations of all small cat species to assess their stability and inform IUCN Red List assessments. Oliveira is leading the implementation, beginning with sites in Brazil near the Guyanas, and emphasizes that systematic monitoring is essential for effective conservation efforts.
