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New cat species ‘Tilcayo’

September 20 , 2026 5 hrs 0 min 39 0

New cat species ‘Tilcayo’ identified in Bolivia, first in over a century.
Genetic analysis suggested that the Tilcayo lineage separated from other tiger cats about 1.4 million years ago.
It is part of a group called tiger cats found across much of South America.
It was found in Bolivia’s ⁠lush Yungas forest, a mountainous region.
It measures about 18 inches (46 cm) long and weighs around 3 pounds (1.4 kg), making it smaller than the average domestic cat.
Researchers used genetic data to confirm that the cat is a new species, and gave it the scientific name Leopardus tilcayo, retaining its local name.
Remains of small ⁠rodents in scat samples suggest they may form part of its diet, while camera-trap evidence indicates it could be more active at night.
Tiger cats are so-called cryptic species, meaning they cannot easily be distinguished merely by appearance.
Tiger cats previously had been considered a single species, but genetic studies decades ago suggested the existence of multiple species.
The research team also described a new tiger cat subspecies in Peru’s Yungas, naming it Leopardus tigrinus antisuyo after Antisuyu, the region of the old Inca Empire that included the area it inhabits.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature, or IUCN, Red List tracking the status of species currently treats tiger cats as two “vulnerable” species with declining populations.