A tiny wild cat living in the cloud forests of Bolivia has been formally identified as a previously unknown species, marking the first time in more than a century that scientists have described a completely new living feline species. The animal, named Leopardus tilcayo and commonly referred to as the Tilcayo, was identified after researchers combined genetic analysis with observations of its physical characteristics.
The discovery was made in Bolivia’s Yungas region, an ecologically rich area of cloud forests in the Andes. The Tilcayo is a member of the tiger cat group, a collection of small wild felines found across South America. Unlike larger and more familiar cats such as jaguars and pumas, the Tilcayo is remarkably small. An adult male currently housed at a wildlife refuge measures about 18 inches from head to body and weighs roughly 1.4 kg, making it smaller than an average domestic cat. Its light-brown coat is covered with dark, irregular rosettes, giving it an appearance somewhat similar to a miniature leopard.
The unusual animal first attracted scientific attention in 2016, when Bolivian biologist and National Geographic Explorer Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz was contacted by a wildlife sanctuary about what staff described as a strange cat. The animal had originally been taken in by a local man who found it as a kitten and believed it was a domestic cat. As it grew, however, its appearance and behaviour suggested that it was a wild feline. It was subsequently taken to the Senda Verde animal refuge in Bolivia’s Yungas region.
At first, researchers believed the animal belonged to a known species of tiger cat. Its resemblance to other spotted cats made it difficult to establish its identity simply through appearance. However, further investigation eventually revealed significant genetic differences. Scientists analysed DNA from 38 tiger cats collected from different parts of South America, including museum specimens and living animals. The analysis showed that what had previously been treated as a single or limited group of closely related tiger cats actually consisted of several genetically distinct species.
The research found that the Tilcayo represents a separate evolutionary lineage that diverged from its relatives about 1.4 million years ago. Scientists also identified another previously unrecognised subspecies in Peru. The findings, published in the journal Current Biology, have prompted researchers to reconsider the classification and evolutionary history of South America’s small tiger cats.
The discovery is significant because the Tilcayo is being described as the first entirely new living cat species formally identified in more than 100 years. The last comparable addition to the recognised living cat species was the pampas cat, described in 1923. While scientists have since changed the classification of some cats that were previously considered subspecies, the Tilcayo represents a newly recognised species rather than simply a reclassification.
Researchers say the discovery also demonstrates how much remains unknown about wildlife, even among animal groups that have been studied extensively. Local communities in the Bolivian Andes were already familiar with the animal and used the name Tilcayo for it, while its scientific identity remained unresolved. The case highlights the potential importance of combining local knowledge with modern genetic research when investigating biodiversity.
However, scientists say the new species could face serious conservation challenges. The Yungas cloud forests where the Tilcayo is believed to live are under pressure from deforestation, agricultural expansion, fires and mining. Because the species has only recently been scientifically recognised, researchers still have limited information about its population size, geographic range, behaviour and ecological role. Further surveys using methods such as camera traps are expected to help determine how widely the species is distributed and how vulnerable it may be.
The researchers have shared their findings with the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which may assess the conservation status of the newly recognised species as part of future evaluations. Scientists say establishing the existence of a species is only the first step; understanding its habitat and threats will be crucial to determining how it can be protected. The discovery of the Tilcayo therefore adds not only a new branch to the global cat family but also a new conservation priority in one of Bolivia’s biologically rich forest ecosystems.
