Scientists have made a significant discovery, identifying a new species of wild cat, the first in over a century. This discovery was announced by a Bolivian researcher to AFP. The species, named the Tilcayo tiger cat, was found in the mountainous Yungas region near La Paz, Bolivia.
The Tilcayo tiger cat displays a spotted coat similar to a leopard’s. Locals in the Bolivian Andes initially mistook this feline for a common house cat. Notably, this new species receives its name from the local nickname “tilcayo.” The scientific designation is now Leopardus tilcayo.
A Leopardus tilcayo cat was recently seen at the Senda Verde animal refuge in the Yungas region. This sighting highlights the distinctiveness of the species, as noted by biologist and National Geographic explorer Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz.
Nogales-Ascarrunz described the discovery as a ground-breaking event. It is the first new wild cat species described since the Uruguayan pampas cat in 1923.
The tilcayo measures about 18 inches, slightly smaller than a domestic cat, and has rounded ears. To date, a pair of these creatures have undergone whole genome sequencing. Nogales-Ascarrunz emphasized the scientific value of this genetic testing. A male tilcayo is currently at an animal shelter in Yungas after being surrendered by a family. Meanwhile, a female tilcayo, initially attacked by locals, has been rescued and reintroduced into the wild.
The research on Leopardus tilcayo commenced in 2021 and was recently published in the journal Current Biology. The species has so far been identified exclusively in Bolivia. Nogales-Ascarrunz cautioned that the tilcayos are classified as vulnerable and may soon face a greater risk of extinction due to their limited population.
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