A new species of wild cat has been discovered in the forests of Bolivia, marking the first official identification of a new living feline species in more than a century.
The small feline, known to local communities as the tilcayo, was found in the humid, misty forests of the Yungas, a mountainous region covered by dense vegetation.
The animal belongs to the group of tigrillos, small wild cats found in various parts of South America. Genetic analysis confirmed that it is a distinct species, which scientists named Leopardus tilcayo, retaining its local name.
New cat alert! A call from a wildlife sanctuary about a “weird cat” has led to the first new cat species discovered in over 100 years in Bolivia’s Yungas forest ecoregion. Learn more about this feline surprise: https://t.co/crffXvPqH4 https://t.co/USo7rI3Y5q
— National Geographic (@NatGeo) September 17, 2026
Smaller than a domestic cat
The tilcayo measures about 46 centimeters in length and weighs just 1.4 kilograms. Its fur is light brown with distinctive rosette-shaped markings.
Scientists still know very little about its behavior and biology. Analysis of fecal samples found remains of small rodents, suggesting they are part of its diet. Camera recordings also indicate that the animal may be primarily nocturnal.
A hidden species
For years, tigrillos were considered to be a single species. However, modern genetic analysis has revealed that they comprise several distinct genetic lineages that cannot easily be distinguished by appearance alone.
The research team analyzed DNA from 38 wild cats in several South American countries, including eight museum specimens. The results showed that tigrillos actually comprise five distinct genetic species.
According to the study, the evolutionary lineage of Leopardus tilcayo separated from the other tigrillos approximately 1.4 million years ago.
The discovery comes as the Yungas forests face increasing pressure from deforestation, agricultural expansion, wildfires and mining.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) already classifies tigrillos within threatened categories, while their populations are declining.
