Bolivia’s cloud forests reveal a new wildcat species

A small, spotted wildcat from Bolivia’s Yungas cloud forests has been identified as a species previously unknown to science. Named Leopardus tilcayo, it keeps the name local communities have used for generations.

The mystery began with a cat at the Senda Verde wildlife sanctuary. Smaller than a typical house cat, it had markings that did not match descriptions of known tiger cats, a group of small wildcats. Biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz set out to investigate.

For the study, published in Current Biology, the team compared DNA from 38 cats across several South American countries. The analysis indicated that the tilcayo’s lineage separated from other tiger cats about 1.4 million years ago. It also found five genetically distinct tiger cat species in a group once considered one.

Much remains unknown. Evidence about the tilcayo itself comes from just two living individuals and a small number of camera-trap records, and scientists do not yet know its wild population size. The findings have been shared with the International Union for Conservation of Nature, whose upcoming review will assess the five lineages separately. That could reveal risks hidden when distinct cats are grouped together, helping clarify conservation needs in forests under pressure from agriculture, fires and mining.