Scientists in Bolivia named a new feline species, Leopardus tilcayo, after a single specimen was found in the Yungas forest. The discovery, first of its kind in more than a century, follows the 1923 identification of the Pampas cat.
Lead researcher Paola Nogales‑Ascarrunz first learned of the animal in 2016 when a local man at the Senda Verde sanctuary reported finding a kitten that later proved to be wild. Examining the cat’s distinctive markings, Nogales‑Ascarrunz concluded it differed from the known tiger cat, Leopardus tigrinus.
The new species, spotted only once, carries leopard‑like rosettes and a flattened face, distinguishing it from its relatives. Researchers published their findings in Current Biology, noting that the discovery may reveal that the tiger cat complex actually comprises up to five separate species.
Conservationists warn that the Yungas region faces mounting pressure from logging and agriculture, threatening the cat’s fragile habitat. If recognized as a distinct species, Leopardus tilcayo could qualify for targeted protection under Bolivia’s national wildlife laws.
The team plans to conduct field surveys and genetic analyses to locate additional individuals and assess population size before proposing a formal conservation status.