For the first time in more than a century, researchers have officially designated a new species of cat. The discovery, identified as Leopardus tilcayo, addresses long-standing confusion within the tiger cat lineage. This small, spotted wild feline inhabits the Yungas cloud forest region of Bolivia. Additionally, the genetic analysis identified a new subspecies, Leopardus tigrinus antisuyo, native to Peru.
L. tilcayo diverged from other members of the Leopardus genus approximately 1.4 million years ago. Its identification marks the first novel living cat species described since the Uruguayan pampas cat (Leopardus fasciatus) was classified in 1923. The animal’s scientific name is derived from “tilcayo,” the local term used by residents in its habitat.
Descriptions of the species rely on data from two individuals. One was photographed in the wild in Bolivia, while the other resides in captivity at the Senda Verde refuge near La Paz. Weighing between 3 and 4 pounds (1.5 to 2 kilograms) and measuring up to 20 inches (50 centimeters) in body length, these cats are notably smaller than domestic house cats. The captive male, nicknamed Tigrino, serves as the type specimen for the species. He arrived at the refuge approximately a decade ago. Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, a biologist and co-author of the study who works with the wildlife trafficking rehabilitation center, noted that while the cat appeared distinct from others, the team did not initially anticipate discovering a new species.
The findings, published on September 17 in the journal Current Biology, help untangle a family tree that has historically been described as “highly contentious.” European naturalists in the 1700s and 1800s encountered similar-looking tiger cats across South America and assigned them various names. Throughout much of the 20th century, taxonomists consolidated these animals under a single species, L. tigrinus, because physical differences are minimal and often indistinguishable without genetic testing.
Advancements in genomic technology over the last ten years have allowed scientists to differentiate the group more accurately. Previous splits in 2013 established the northern tiger cat (L. tigrinus) and southern tiger cat (L. guttulus) as separate species. Subsequent proposals in 2017 and 2024 recognized the eastern tiger cat (L. emiliae) and clouded tiger cat (L. pardinoides) as distinct as well.
To confirm these relationships and identify the new species, the research team sequenced complete genomes from 38 cat samples sourced from South and Central America, including eight specimens from museum collections. Samples included tissue, teeth, bones, skin, and fur from cats in countries such as Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela. The analysis concluded that the group consists of five distinct species, verifying the four previously proposed taxa and adding L. tilcayo as the fifth. Fabio Oliveira do Nascimento, a taxonomist at the University of São Paulo’s Museum of Zoology who was not involved in the study, stated that the research clarifies the natural history and evolution of the group.
Despite the genetic confirmation, little is known about L. tilcayo’s behavior, diet, or wild population numbers. Scientists emphasize the need for further field studies to estimate population size and range. Jonas Lescroart, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Antwerp and co-author of the study, warned that conservation statuses may need revision. Species currently listed as “vulnerable” under the broad northern tiger cat classification could be re-evaluated as “endangered” once assessed individually as separate species.
Tiger cats face significant threats from deforestation, illegal wildlife trafficking, and diseases transmitted by domestic dogs. Researchers hope that recognizing L. tilcayo as a distinct species will draw greater conservation attention and enable governments to implement more targeted protection strategies.
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