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New wild cat species is identified for first time in 100 years, researchers say
NBC News • • world
Key Points:
- Researchers have identified a new species of wild cat, Leopardus tilcayo or the tilcayo tiger cat, living in the Bolivian Yungas cloud forest, marking the first discovery of a large mammal species in a century.
- The tilcayo tiger cat is smaller than a typical house cat, with distinctive rounded ears and spots, and was genetically confirmed as a unique species that diverged from other tiger cats about 1.4 million years ago.
- Local Indigenous communities in Bolivia have long known of the tilcayo, and the species was named to preserve this traditional knowledge rather than assigning a new name.
- The population size of Leopardus tilcayo remains unknown, raising concerns about its conservation status amid habitat loss due to development and agriculture in South America.
- This discovery highlights the importance of conservation efforts and the need for further scientific study to protect this newly recognized and potentially endangered wild cat species.
