A new wild cat species has been confirmed in Bolivia after genetic testing showed it diverged from other tiger cat lineages about 1.4 million years ago, according to researchers involved in the discovery.
The animal first drew attention when a resident from a forest community near La Paz delivered a kitten-sized cat to a local sanctuary, thinking it was domestic. He had been feeding it noodles, rice, and eggs before realizing it was a wild animal he could not keep, the sanctuary’s records state.
Staff initially suspected the cat belonged to a known Brazilian tiger cat species. Researcher Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, however, noted that its spots and tail pattern did not align with those cats.
She conducted genetic analyses using tissue from that animal and a second cat later brought to the Senda Verde sanctuary. The results showed the two were distinct yet matched each other, indicating a separate species that split from other tiger cats roughly 1.4 million years ago, a threshold sufficient to designate a new species.
Local communities in Bolivia have long recognized the animal, according to Nogales-Ascarrunz. Residents call it Tilcayo, a name passed down through generations. She said the team intends to preserve that traditional knowledge rather than assign a different name.
In related environmental developments, regional conflicts have also driven concerns over wildlife and habitat security, as seen when nearly 20,000 people were displaced near the Red Sea amid escalating tensions.
New wild cat species places local knowledge at the forefront
Scientists add around 65 mammal species to the taxonomy each year, according to recent research. Many of these additions, including several wild cats, result from splitting. In such cases, a previously recognized single species is reclassified as two or more based on genetic distinctions.
For instance, the Sunda clouded leopard, Neofelis diardi, was recognized in 2006 after its genome was distinguished from mainland counterparts, even though museum collections already held specimens from Borneo. By contrast, researchers said the Tilcayo had never been collected or cataloged before this work.
“We did not have specimens in museums. It had never been collected before,” said researcher Tadeu de Oliveira.
Nogales-Ascarrunz said the species is likely at risk, citing the finding as further evidence for conservation measures in the Yungas and surrounding habitats. “It is a new reason to protect the world,” she said.