Scientists have identified a previously unknown species of wild cat in Bolivia, marking the first time a new feline has been described in more than a century. Published in the journal Current Biology, the discovery centers on Leopardus tilcayo, a diminutive animal native to the Yungas cloud forest.
The small cat, locally referred to as the tilcayo, weighs no more than three pounds and measures approximately 18 inches in length, making it smaller than an average domestic house cat. Its identification followed a year-long stay with a local family that had kept the spotted kitten as a pet before realizing it was a wild animal. The cat was eventually transferred to the Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary around 2017, where it remains the only known individual of its species in protective captivity.
Paola Nogales Ascarrunz, a National Geographic Explorer and co-author of the study, recalled her initial reaction to the animal. “The first time I saw it, it was really, really small and skinny and I couldn’t believe like how small it was,” she told ABC News. She noted that the cat’s physical features—specifically its small, scrunched face, round ears, and long whiskers—did not match reference photos of any known “tiger cats.” Elusive tiger cats have historically been misclassified as other similar-looking species, such as oncillas or margays.
While traditional taxonomy relies on physical appearance, the research team utilized advanced genetic testing to determine the animal’s true classification. By comparing the sanctuary cat’s entire genetic code against museum specimens of related felines, researchers confirmed it as a distinct species and also identified a new subspecies within the tiger cat group. Evolutionary analysis suggests the tilcayo cat diverged from a common tiger cat ancestor roughly 1.4 million years ago.
Little is currently known about the tilcayo cat’s full habitat range or behavioral patterns. Although the male at the sanctuary is the only captive specimen, camera traps placed in the cloud forests are believed to have captured images of others in the wild.
The reclassification has raised concerns among conservationists. Splitting the broader tiger cat group into smaller, distinct species means some, including the tilcayo, are now categorized as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Nogales Ascarrunz highlighted that the Yungas ecosystem faces significant threats from deforestation and uncontrolled wildfires.
Despite these challenges, the global attention surrounding the discovery offers hope. Nogales Ascarrunz expressed optimism that the news could shift public interest toward smaller, elusive felines, rather than solely focusing on larger, more majestic cats. “Maybe these new things are just around us,” she said. “Now with Tilcayo, we have one more reason to conserve this beautiful world.”
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