Tilcayo: a new species of cat discovered after 100 years

A new species of cat, the first in over 100 years, has been discovered in Bolivia. Smaller than a domestic cat, covered in large patches and difficult to spot, the little animal has been named Leopardus tilcayo, and roams the forests of the Yungas, a region situated between 1,500 and 2,000 metres above sea level, characterised by generally cloudy weather and high humidity.

The first specimen had been observed more than ten years ago by the biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, who was contacted by staff at the Senda Verde animal shelter in the Bolivian Andes. The shelter had in fact been entrusted with the care of a ‘tiger cat’, brought in by a man who had tried unsuccessfully to tame it for a year. Initially, the researcher had mistakenly classified the feline as Leopardus tigrinus, a species native to the area, but she then noticed the irregular and ‘open’ ‘rosettes’ (markings on the coat) and began in-depth studies with her colleagues Eduardo Eizirik and Jonas Lescroart.

By comparing the DNA of two specimens found in Bolivian forests with that of 38 similar species belonging to the genus Leopardus, researchers concluded that they had encountered a new variety, the first to be discovered since the pampas cat in 1923. In light of these recent findings, the researchers have also stated that the family of South American ‘tiger cats’ comprises a total of five species, as opposed to the two previously recorded.

At present, information on the tilcayo is extremely limited. The feline measures less than 50 cm and weighs 1.5 kg, and has very long whiskers compared to domestic varieties. With regard to its ethology – that is, its behaviour in the wild – the initial hypothesis is that the tiger cat is predominantly nocturnal and feeds on small rodents. Lescroart stated that the tilcayo is classified as a ‘cryptic’ species, meaning it cannot be identified solely by its physical appearance. The word ‘tilcayo’, used by local people to refer to the species, does not appear to have any particular meaning in Spanish or Quechua.

The discovery was published yesterday in the scientific journal Current Biology. In the study, the authors emphasise that the conservation status of the feline is unknown, and therefore preserving the habitat of the Bolivian Yungas will be crucial for the future of the ‘new cat’.