Leopardus tilcayo discovered: new cat species in Bolivia after 100 years, with only 2 specimens identified - Noticias Ambientales

A new wild cat species, Leopardus tilcayo, has been identified in Bolivia after more than a century since the last new feline discovery, based on whole-genome sequencing and molecular analyses. Only two specimens are known, with the species currently classified as vulnerable due to its limited distribution in the Bolivian Andes.

Leopardus tilcayo discovered: new cat species in Bolivia after 100 years, with only 2 specimens identified - Noticias Ambientales # Leopardus tilcayo discovered: new cat species in Bolivia after 100 years, with only 2 specimens identified Por: Luís Pavesio 18 September, 2026 A team of researchers has made a significant discovery in the Andes of Bolivia: a new species of wild cat named Leopardus tilcayo. This finding breaks a silence of more than one hundred years since a new feline was last identified, specifically in 1923 with the Uruguayan pampas cat. ## Leopardus tilcayo: A New Species of Cat in Bolivia The species name, Leopardus tilcayo, comes from its distinctive appearance and the term used by the inhabitants of Los Yungas. So far, only two specimens have been detected, which were genetically analyzed to verify their uniqueness. A male was initially adopted by a local family but was taken to a shelter after exhibiting unusual behavior. The female, on the other hand, was rescued after suffering aggression and later released into her natural habitat. The Leopardus tilcayo is distinguished by its spotted fur, similar to that of a leopard, although its size is notably smaller, with only 45 centimeters in length. Its tail, longer than its legs, also exhibits distinctive markings. Its identification as a new species was made possible through molecular studies via whole genome sequencing. These advances allowed for the determination that it is a previously undocumented feline due to the lack of information and traces. The research process began in 2021, and so far…

read it at noticiasambientales.com