Scientists Identify First New Wild Cat Species in 100+ Years in Bolivia

Researchers have formally identified Leopardus tilcayo, a small wild cat native to Bolivia's Yungas cloud forest, as a new species—the first living feline formally described in over a century. The discovery, published September 17, 2026, in Current Biology, emerged from genetic analysis of a sanctuary cat nicknamed Tigrino and museum specimens, revealing that what was previously thought to be a single tiger cat species actually comprises five distinct species.

Tigrino, a 10-year-old male, was brought to the Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary near La Paz in 2017 after a local family found him in the forest as a kitten and initially kept him as a pet, feeding him rice, noodles, and eggs before realizing he was wild. Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, a Bolivian biologist and National Geographic Explorer, noticed the cat's unusual appearance while volunteering at the sanctuary—particularly its small size, rounded ears, and distinctive large rosette markings that differed from known tiger cat species. The researchers named the species Leopardus tilcayo to honor the local name "tilcayo" that Bolivian communities have used for generations, reflecting ancestral knowledge of the animal.

The study analyzed complete genomes from 38 cats across South America, including eight museum specimens preserved in European and U.S. institutions. Genetic analysis showed that L. tilcayo diverged from other tiger cat lineages approximately 1.4 million years ago, a sufficient evolutionary distance to constitute a separate species. The same research identified four other tiger cat species—L. guttulus, L. emiliae, L. pardinoides, and L. tigrinus—plus a new subspecies in Peru's Yungas, L. tigrinus antisuyo, named after Antisuyu, a region of the ancient Inca Empire.

Measuring 45–46 centimeters (18 inches) from head to tail base and weighing 1.4–3 pounds, L. tilcayo is smaller than an average domestic cat, with light brown fur patterned with dark leopard-like spots. Currently, only two individuals have undergone complete genome sequencing: Tigrino at the sanctuary and a wild female. Researchers installing camera traps in the Yungas forests hope to document additional wild populations. Little is yet known about the species' diet, behavior, and full geographic range, though scat samples suggest small rodents may be consumed and camera-trap evidence indicates nocturnal activity.

The discovery carries significant conservation implications. Tiger cats face mounting threats from deforestation, agricultural expansion, habitat fragmentation, human-caused fires, mining, illegal hunting, and diseases transmitted by domestic dogs. The splitting of tiger cats into five separate species means that individual lineages—including L. tilcayo—may warrant higher conservation status than previously assessed when grouped together. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) plans to reassess the five lineages separately, potentially classifying L. tilcayo and others as endangered rather than vulnerable. Tigrino has unexpectedly become a conservation ambassador, drawing tourists to the Senda Verde sanctuary since the September 17 announcement; however, sanctuary staff keep him out of public view due to his stress sensitivity, managing visitor expectations while protecting his welfare.