A Mysterious Kitten in Bolivia Turned Out to Be an Entirely New Cat Species
A new kind of cat has emerged, capturing hearts with its charm. Officially named Leopardus tilcayo, or the tilcayo tiger cat, this new species is smaller than a common house cat yet exhibits a fierce appearance akin to jungle cats. Researchers published their findings in Current Biology, marking the first identification of a new cat species in over a century.
Weighing just three pounds and measuring about 18 inches in length, the tilcayo has a distinctive scrunched face that lends it a perpetual mild scowl. Its oversized rosettes contrast with its feisty demeanor, likely essential for survival in the Bolivian Andes.
The tilcayo was first spotted in 2016 when a local man brought a cat to a wildlife center, mistakenly believing it to be a peculiar domestic kitten. National Geographic Explorer Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, one of the researchers, had the opportunity to examine the species firsthand.
Initially mistaken for a Brazilian tiger cat, genetic analysis led by Nogales-Ascarrunz unveiled that this cat’s lineage diverged from Tiger cats approximately 1.4 million years ago, confirming it as a unique species, though known to local indigenous communities for generations.
This discovery adds another branch to the tiger cat family tree, now totaling five distinct species. However, with the tilcayo’s habitat in the Yungas cloud forest under threat from deforestation and development, researchers are urged to act swiftly to study and protect these adorable cats from potential endangerment.
