Story perspectives
New Bolivia wild cat species confirmed as Leopardus tilcayo
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Story summary
- Biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz confirmed a new wild cat species, Leopardus tilcayo, in Bolivia.
- Genetic analysis of 38 leopardus specimens identified five distinct tiger-cat lineages, one being Leopardus tilcayo.
- The male holotype, nicknamed Tigrino, resides at Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary near La Paz.
- Researchers estimate the lineage diverged from other tiger cats roughly 1.4 million years ago.
- Conservationists warn deforestation and mining threaten the Yungas cloud-forest habitat of the new cat.