First New Wild Cat Species Identified in Over 100 Years Is An Adorably Tiny 'Tiger'

Live updates

1. 2h ago

   Scientists identify Tilcayo as first new wild cat species in over 100 years

   Researchers have identified the tilcayo (Leopardus tilcayo), a tiny wild cat from Bolivia's Yungas cloud forests, marking the first discovery of a living novel cat species in more than a century. The animal is described as a tiger cat that had remained unknown to science despite existing in local knowledge. One individual was discovered after a man found it by a road and kept it as a pet for one year, though it is currently the only known living member of the species.

   Why it matters

   Identifying a new feline species is rare due to the extensive existing catalog of wild cats. This discovery highlights the biodiversity of the Yungas cloud forests and the role of local nomenclature in scientific identification.

   What is confirmed

   • The tilcayo is the first new species of cat identified in over 100 years.
   • The species was discovered in the Yungas cloud forests of Bolivia.
   • The scientific name for the new species is Leopardus tilcayo.
   • The cat is described as tiny and resembling a tiger.

   Still unconfirmed

   • There is only one known living member of the species.
   • A man kept the cat at home for a year after finding it by a road.

   What to watch next

   • Identification of additional living members of the species
   • Detailed genetic analysis comparing the tilcayo to other Leopardus species
   Sources used for this update (16)

   1. NBC News — New wild cat species is identified for first time in 100 years, researchers say
   2. National Geographic — Meet the First New Cat Species Discovered in 100 Years
   3. Scientific American — See the first new species of cat discovered in more than a century—it’s adorable
   4. The New York Times — New Species of Cat Discovered for First Time in a Century
   5. People.com — New Wild ‘Tiger Cat’ Species Discovered — with Only 1 Known Living Member
   6. FOX Weather — New wild cat species discovered after hiding in plain sight for more than a century
   7. The Independent — A man thought he’d found a stray kitten. It turned out to be a new species of wild cat
   8. National Geographic Society — Photos Show New Species of Wild Cat Discovered in Bolivia — The First in 100 Years
   9. Smithsonian Magazine — Meet the Adorable and Tiny Tilcayo, the First Brand-New Cat Species Identified in More Than a Century
   10. AP News — Tiny wild cat newly identified as a species draws curious visitors in Bolivia
   11. Nature — Daily briefing: The first new cat species described by science in a century
   12. ScienceAlert — First New Wild Cat Species Identified in Over 100 Years Is An Adorably Tiny 'Tiger'
   confidence 90%