The new Bolivian wild cat species, Leopardus tilcayo, is smaller than an average domestic cat and was identified through genetic research after initially being mistaken for a pet.
COROICO: A new Bolivian wild cat species has emerged from the cloud forests of the Yungas after a tiny spotted feline once mistaken for a domestic cat helped scientists uncover a previously undescribed branch of the cat family.
Named Leopardus tilcayo, the feline measures about 18 inches, or 46cm, from head to body and weighs around three pounds, or 1.4kg. Its light-brown coat is covered with irregular dark rosettes, giving the tiny animal the appearance of a miniature leopard.
The finding is particularly significant because researchers describe it as the first new living wild cat species formally named and described in more than a century.
One known individual, affectionately called Tigrino, now lives at the Senda Verde wildlife sanctuary near Coroico in Bolivia.
How was the tiny cat discovered?
The story began after a local man found the animal as a kitten near a forest and took it home, believing it could be domesticated. After living with the clearly wild feline for about a year, the family transferred it to a sanctuary.
Biologist and National Geographic Explorer Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz later noticed that the animal’s physical characteristics did not fully match existing descriptions of South American tiger cats.
That observation eventually led to extensive genetic research.
Scientists compared genetic information from 38 cats from different parts of South America, including museum specimens. The analysis revealed that animals previously grouped together as tiger cats actually represent five genetically distinct species.
Researchers concluded that the new Bolivian wild cat species represents a separate evolutionary lineage that diverged from related cats about 1.4 million years ago.
Why is Tigrino attracting visitors?
News of the discovery has turned Tigrino into an unlikely attraction at Senda Verde, with visitors arriving hoping to see one of the world’s newest recognised wild cats.
But sanctuary staff have restricted access because the small feline becomes stressed by crowds. Tigrino is currently the only known individual of the species living in protective care.
Scientists still know relatively little about how many tilcayo cats survive in the wild. Camera-trap evidence suggests they may be more active at night, while analysis of droppings indicates small rodents could form part of their diet.
Their home in Bolivia’s Yungas cloud forest also faces pressures from deforestation, agriculture, fires and mining, making understanding the animal’s distribution increasingly important for conservation.
The discovery of the new Bolivian wild cat species shows that even relatively well-studied mammal groups can still hold surprises, particularly in biodiverse habitats that remain difficult to survey.
Impact to expect
Conservation. Recognition of Leopardus tilcayo could strengthen efforts to study and protect Bolivia’s Yungas forests while helping scientists establish how many of these tiny cats remain in the wild.
