Scientists have discovered a previously unknown cat species in Bolivia’s Yungas mountain forests, marking the first discovery of its kind since 1923. Locals call the animal the tilcayo, while its scientific name is Leopardus tilcayo.
The cat belongs to the oncilla group, which is widespread across much of South America. Scientists confirmed through genetic data that it is a distinct species. The animal is about 46 centimeters long and weighs around 1.4 kilograms. Its fur is light brown, with irregular rosette-like patterns across its body.
Researchers analyzed the DNA of 38 animals and found that the oncilla group comprises five genetically distinct species. The tilcayo lineage diverged from the other members of the group about 1.4 million years ago.
The discovery shows that even among animal groups that have long been known to science, there may still be species that have not yet been studied. In this case, the identification of the new species was based not only on the animal’s physical characteristics but also on genetic data, which made it possible to distinguish it from other members of the same group.
The finding of a 1.4-million-year genetic divergence is particularly notable. This means that the tilcayo lineage separated from other oncillas very early, while its status as a distinct species has only now been confirmed. The study of the DNA of 38 animals also showed that scientists distinguish five genetically distinct species within this group.
