Historic Discovery: Tiny New Wildcat Species Uncovered in Bolivia After a Century
A new wildcat species, the Tilcayo cat, has been discovered in Bolivia, marking the first official discovery of its kind in over a century. Weighing just 1.4 kg, the endangered feline faces severe habitat threats.
A brand-new feline species has been officially discovered in Bolivia: a tiny wildcat named the Tilcayo cat (Leopardus tilcayo). This marks a historic milestone as the first official discovery of a new cat species in over a century.
According to reports from National Geographic and Reuters, the cat measures about 46 centimeters in length and weighs a mere 1.4 kilograms, making it smaller than the average domestic cat. Its fur is light brown, adorned with irregular rosette-shaped spots. Researchers note that it is a cryptic species, meaning it is easily mistaken for other felines by appearance alone, which explains how it stayed under the radar for so long.
Field cameras and fecal sample analysis reveal that the cat is primarily nocturnal and feeds on small rodents. While South American tiger cats were previously grouped into just one or two species, DNA analysis of 38 specimens—including museum exhibits—revealed five distinct genetic lineages. Data shows the Tilcayo lineage split from other tiger cats approximately 1.4 million years ago, a time gap sufficient to classify it as a separate species.
Tiger cats were previously listed as a single "vulnerable" species on the IUCN Red List. Separate evaluations for the five new species are expected to classify the Tilcayo cat as endangered. Furthermore, Bolivia's cloud forests are suffering from deforestation, agricultural expansion, controlled fires, and mining, all threatening the feline's survival.
Researchers emphasize that this discovery sends an urgent message to the public: even within familiar animal groups, hidden species still exist, and many face the threat of extinction before we even get a chance to know them.
