1 hr ago
Scientists Identify New Wild Cat Species in Bolivia
Scientists found that a very small spotted cat in Bolivia is actually a new species.
The cat had been living at a wildlife sanctuary for years.
A local family had found it in the forest and brought it there.
Researchers compared its DNA with that of more than 30 other cats.
They learned that its family line separated from related cats about 1.4 million years ago.
The species was named Leopardus tilcayo, after a name used by local communities.
People in the area already knew about the cat, but scientists had not officially recognized it.
Researchers still do not know how many of these cats exist or where all of them live.
They hope identifying the species will help protect its forest home.
Researchers identified Leopardus tilcayo, a previously unrecognized wild cat species found in Bolivia.
The small, spotted male was discovered at a wildlife sanctuary in the Yungas region.
Genetic comparisons involving more than 30 cats showed the species’ lineage split about 1.4 million years ago.
The discovery is the first formal identification of a living wild cat species in more than a century.
Scientists say the cat’s population, range, behavior, and diet remain unknown as its forest habitat faces deforestation and gold mining.
- Who
- Researchers including Bolivian biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz and evolutionary biologist Jonas Lescroart identified the species.
- What
- Scientists formally described Leopardus tilcayo as a previously unrecognized wild cat species.
- Where
- The cat was found at a wildlife sanctuary in Bolivia’s Yungas region, in the tropical cloud forests of the Andes Mountains.
- When
- The discovery was reported Thursday; the articles do not provide an exact date.
- Why
- Researchers wanted to determine the cat’s place in the feline family tree and support efforts to protect its threatened habitat.
Key facts
- Species
- Leopardus tilcayo
- Location
- Bolivia’s Yungas forests
- Size
- The male measures about 18 inches from head to tail base and weighs about 3 pounds.
- Genetic history
- Its lineage split from related cats approximately 1.4 million years ago.
- Genetic sample
- Researchers compared genomes from more than 30 cats across South America.
- Previous record
- The last formally identified feline species was the Uruguayan pampas cat in 1923.
- Threats
- The species’ forest habitat faces accelerating deforestation and gold mining.
Quotes
Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz
Bolivian biologist and lead author of the study
“This isn't an animal that nobody had ever seen before. Local communities knew it existed, but until now science had not recognized it as a separate species.”
NDTV
“We should make haste in doing these kinds of discoveries, because all of this biodiversity is under pressure, and it's disappearing as we speak.”
NDTV
Sources
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