Bolivia Unveils First New Cat Species in Over a Century

Scientists have formally named a previously unknown wild cat in Bolivia’s Yungas cloud forest, a milestone that marks the first new living cat species described in more than a hundred years. The diminutive feline, locally known as Tilcayo, belongs to the tiger‑cat group that spans much of South America. Researchers collected specimens in the high‑humidity, cloud‑shrouded mountains of the Yungas, an area renowned for its rich biodiversity. The discovery follows extensive fieldwork that confirmed the cat’s distinct genetic markers and morphological traits, setting it apart from known tiger‑cat relatives. By adding a new species to the tiger‑cat lineage, the find expands the scientific record of South American felids and provides a clearer picture of the region’s ecological complexity. The identification also highlights the Yungas forest as a critical habitat for undiscovered wildlife.