Spotted Cat from Bolivian Forest Revealed as New Species
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New wild cat species discovered - with only one known living member
Image source: © Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz/Julie Van Collie
Image caption: The only known living member of the species is in a wildlife sanctuary in Bolivia
By Helen Briggs - Environment Correspondent
Published 14 minutes ago
A spotted cat from the forests of Bolivia has been confirmed as a new species, highlighting how much remains unknown about elusive mammals.
The small feline, roughly the size of a domestic moggy, was initially overlooked because it shared similarities with other wild cats that have similar spotting and stripes. However, DNA studies have now revealed it to be a distinct species.
Scientists hope this discovery will draw attention to the conservation of tiger cats - a group of small wild cats found in South and Central America that often receive less public attention than larger cousins like lions, leopards, and tigers.
Image source: © Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz/Julie Van Collie
Image caption: The cat, nicknamed 'Tigrino', is part of a group known as tiger cats, found across Central and South America.
Tiger Cats: A Misunderstood Species
Tiger cats are small, spotted wild cats found from Costa Rica to Bolivia and Argentina. They often look remarkably similar, making it difficult for experts to distinguish them.
"It's an amazing result that we have a new species for the world, which is Leopardus tilcayo," said Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz of Universidad Mayor de San Andres in La Paz, Bolivia.
Image source: Getty Images
Image caption: Oncilla, or northern tiger cat, looking similar to the newly discovered Tilcaya cat.
A Single Known Living Member
Only one confirmed member of this new species is known - a 10-year-old cat living in a rescue sanctuary in Bolivia. But scientists suspect others exist. This cat, nicknamed 'Tigrino', sparked the initial investigation.
Nogales-Ascarrunz, while volunteering at the sanctuary, noticed Tigrino's unusual appearance. It had been initially mistaken for a domestic kitten but later revealed itself to be an unfamiliar wildcat.
Dr. Nogales-Ascarrunz partnered with other researchers worldwide who delved into the genetic history of tiger cats using DNA from both living animals and museum specimens.
Unveiling Hidden Species
The study, published in Current Biology,* revealed surprising insights, suggesting there are five distinct tiger cat species, including the newly described Tilcaya cat (Leopardus tilcayo) of Bolivia.
Image source: Getty Images
Image caption: Bolivia's dense forests are home to rare plants and animals.
Conservation Implications
Identifying these species is crucial for conservation efforts. As co-researcher Caroline Sartor from the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at the University of Oxford explains, we can't protect a species if we don't even know what it is or where it lives.