Mystery in the Bolivian Cloud Forests: Scientists Unveil a Stunning New Cat Species After a Century of Silence
In appearance, the tilcayo cat can also be differentiated from the oncilla (L. tigrinus) by its larger rosettes, more slender tail, and its muted fur color.
“We never expected this Bolivian tiger cat to be a separate species, and no one had ever proposed it as a different animal, subspecies or otherwise,” study co-lead author Jonas Lescroart told Reuters.
Can We Discover — And Protect — Other New Species Of Cats Found Elsewhere Around The World?
Researchers hope that further genetic analysis will open up additional pathways for finding more undiscovered cat species across the globe — and determine how to best protect them.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (ICUN) Red List notes that the tiger cat group contains two vulnerable species with declining populations.
What’s more, when the tiger cat species was separated into five subspecies, the population for each one obviously decreased, making them more vulnerable and in need of conservation efforts. That said, little is known at present about the size of the remaining Leopardus tilcayo population.
“Showing the general public that even in a flagship group such as cats … there are still new species to be discovered may transmit an important message,” Eizirik told Reuters. “There are many undiscovered species out there in the world, and they are at risk of disappearing before we even discover them.”
After reading about the world’s first new cat species in more than a century, check out seven places around the globe that have become overrun with cats. Then, learn about Félicette, the first cat ever sent to space, as well as the thylacine, the Tasmanian tiger that’s said to be extinct — but might not be.
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