Scientists have identified a new wild cat species in Bolivia’s Yungas cloud forest, the first newly described living feline species in more than a century. The species, Leopardus tilcayo, came to researchers’ attention after a local man found a kitten near a forest and kept it at home for about a year before realizing it was a wild animal and taking it to Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary. Bolivian biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz later noticed that the small spotted cat did not match known tiger-cat descriptions. Genetic analysis of 38 cats from South America confirmed it as a distinct species whose lineage diverged from close relatives 1.4 million years ago. The finding adds to evidence that South America’s tiger cats, which are a group of felines found across the continent, are more diverse than previously thought. In Europe, camera traps and AI are also being used to monitor elusive wildlife and biodiversity. Little is known about the tilcayo’s population, range or behavior.
