Tiny New Feline Species, the Tilcayo, Discovered in Bolivian Cloud Forests
Genetic analysis confirms the small cat, previously unknown to science, represents the first new feline species described in over a century.
A diminutive wild cat dwelling in Bolivia's cloud forests has been identified as a new species, marking the first formal description of a living feline species in more than 100 years. Known locally as the tilcayo, the feline measures approximately 18 inches (46cm) in length and weighs around 3 pounds (1.4kg), making it smaller than many domestic cats. Its habitat is the lush Yungas forest, a mountainous region characterized by humid, cloud-shrouded forests.
Researchers utilized genetic analysis to confirm the tilcayo's distinct species status, naming it Leopardus tilcayo and preserving its local designation. The discovery was published in the journal Current Biology.
The tilcayo belongs to the group of small South American felines known as tiger cats. These cats are often described as 'cryptic species' due to the extreme difficulty in distinguishing between them based solely on appearance. Historically, tiger cats were considered a single species, but subsequent genetic research indicated the existence of several distinct lineages.
According to Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, a National Geographic explorer and study co-author, the tilcayo possesses light brown fur adorned with irregularly shaped rosettes. Scientists still have limited knowledge of the elusive cat's behavior. Analysis of scat samples suggests its diet may include small rodents, and camera trap footage indicates it is likely more active at night.
Jonas Lescroart, a co-lead author and evolutionary biologist at the University of Antwerp, stated that current information on the tilcayo comes from just two living individuals and a few camera trap observations. One of the studied animals is a 10-year-old male residing at the Senda Verde wildlife sanctuary in Bolivia, having previously been kept by a local family. Researchers became curious about this particular animal because its characteristics did not align with existing descriptions of tiger cats, which were primarily based on populations from Brazil.
The study involved analyzing DNA from 38 cats sourced from various South American countries, including eight specimens preserved in museums. The findings propose that tiger cats actually consist of five genetically distinct species. The lineage of the tilcayo is estimated to have diverged from other tiger cats approximately 1.4 million years ago.
In addition to the tilcayo, the research team identified a new tiger cat subspecies in Peru's Yungas region, named Leopardus tigrinus antisuyo. This subspecies designation honors Antisuyu, a historical region of the Inca empire that encompassed its habitat.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature currently classifies tiger cats as two vulnerable species with declining populations. The researchers have submitted their findings to the IUCN, which is expected to evaluate the five distinct lineages separately during its upcoming review. This reclassification could highlight that individual species, including the tilcayo, may face a higher risk of extinction than previously understood.
Bolivia's Yungas forests are increasingly threatened by deforestation, agricultural expansion, human-caused fires, and mining activities. Eduardo Eizirik, a senior author and evolutionary biologist at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, emphasized that the discovery underscores the vastness of the unknown in the natural world, noting that many species could disappear before they are even identified.