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New Feline Species Discovered in Bolivia!
18 Sep
Summary
- A new feline species, Leopardus tilcayo, was identified in Bolivia.
- The tiny cat weighs only 1.4kg and is smaller than domestic cats.
- Genetic analysis confirmed it as a species previously unknown to science.
A new species of wild cat, formally identified as Leopardus tilcayo and locally called tilcayo, has been discovered in Bolivia's Yungas forests. This significant find represents the first new living feline species to be formally described in more than 100 years. The diminutive creature, weighing approximately 1.4kg and measuring around 46cm in length, is even smaller than the average domestic cat.
Distinctive features, including leopard-like spots, short rounded ears, and a unique facial structure, immediately set it apart. The discovery originated in 2016 when a local man found a kitten near a forest and brought it to the Senda Verde wildlife sanctuary. Subsequent genetic analysis by researchers, led by Bolivian biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, confirmed the animal was indeed a species previously unknown to science.
