Scientists discover a new species of wild cat

Scientists have described a new species of wild cat for the first time in more than a century. The small carnivore, Leopardus tilcayo, was discovered in Bolivia’s Yungas, mountain forests located on the eastern slopes of the Andes. Adult individuals weigh only about 1.4–1.8 kg, making them smaller than most domestic cats, El.kz reports.

The discovery dates back to around 2016, when a local resident found a small spotted cat on the road and assumed it was an ordinary kitten. He took the animal home and fed it noodles, rice and eggs for almost a year. The man later realised that the animal did not resemble a domestic cat and transferred it to a wildlife rescue centre.

Even specialists initially identified the animal as a northern tiger cat (Leopardus tigrinus). However, the unusual animal was notably smaller, while its large spots and tail morphology differed from those of known members of the species. Genetic analysis confirmed that the researchers were dealing with a distinct species whose evolutionary lineage diverged from that of related tiger cats approximately 1.4 million years ago.