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New Bolivia Cat Species Confirmed After 100 Years

By Drooid · Sep 18, 2026, 2:24 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Scientists Discover New Cat

Scientists announced a new cat species discovered in Bolivia’s Yungas forest.
Researchers propose the name Leopardus tilcayo for the small, leopard-spotted feline.
Scientists first learned of the cat when a kitten arrived at a wildlife sanctuary.
Genetic testing confirmed the animal does not belong to any known feline species.
The find reshapes the cat family tree and is the first new feline described in over 100 years.

Summary

IUCN Reassesses Tiger Cats

IUCN will reassess tiger cats and may list Tilcayo as endangered.
Researchers are installing camera traps across the Yungas to locate wild individuals.
Genetic analysis shows Tilcayo lineage diverged about 1.4 million years ago.
The study raised recognized tiger-cat species from three to five, adding a Peruvian subspecies.
Local communities adopted the name Tilcayo to honor ancestral knowledge and link science.

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Scientists Discover New Cat

Scientists announced a new cat species discovered in Bolivia’s Yungas forest.
Researchers propose the name Leopardus tilcayo for the small, leopard-spotted feline.
Scientists first learned of the cat when a kitten arrived at a wildlife sanctuary.
Genetic testing confirmed the animal does not belong to any known feline species.
The find reshapes the cat family tree and is the first new feline described in over 100 years.

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