New cat species identified in Bolivia, first in over a century

A diminutive wild cat that inhabits Bolivia’s ​cloud forest has been identified as a previously unknown species, marking the first time a new living cat species has been formally ‌named and described in more than a century.

The cat, called Tilcayo by local communities, is ​part of a group called tiger cats found across much of South America. It was found in Bolivia’s ⁠lush Yungas forest, a mountainous region where forests are often covered by clouds and surrounded by high humidity, according to researchers. It measures about 18 inches (46 cm) long and weighs around 3 pounds (1.4 kg), making it smaller than the average domestic cat.

Researchers used genetic data ‌to confirm that the cat is a new species, and gave it the scientific name Leopardus tilcayo, retaining its local name.

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