New feline species discovered

A tiny wild cat living in Bolivia's cloud forests has been identified as a new species in a remarkable discovery.

Tilcayo measures 18 inches

The feline, known as the tilcayo by local communities, measures just 18 inches (46cm) long and weighs around 3lb (1.4kg), making it smaller than the average domestic cat.

Found in Yungas forest

It was found in Bolivia's lush Yungas forest, a mountainous region of humid forests that are often shrouded in clouds.

Genetic analysis confirms species

Researchers used genetic analysis to confirm the animal was a previously unknown species and named it Leopardus tilcayo, retaining its local name.

First new feline species in a century

The discovery marks the first time a new living feline species has been formally named and described in more than a century.

Tilcayo belongs to tiger cats

The tilcayo belongs to a group of small South American felines known as tiger cats, which are found across much of the continent.

Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz comments

Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, a National Geographic explorer and one of the authors of the study published in Current Biology on Thursday, said: 'Its fur is light brown … with irregularly shaped rosettes across its body.'

“Its fur is light brown … with irregularly shaped rosettes across its body.”

Scientists know little about tilcayo

Scientists still know relatively little about how the elusive cat lives.

Small rodent remains in scat

Small rodent remains discovered in scat samples suggest they could form part of its diet, while camera traps indicate the animal may be more active at night.

Tiger cats are cryptic species

Tiger cats are considered 'cryptic species', meaning different species can be extremely difficult to distinguish based on their appearance alone.

Tiger cats were once one species

They were once thought to comprise a single species, but genetic research later suggested there were several distinct groups.

Jonas Lescroart explains

Study co-lead author Jonas Lescroart, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Antwerp in Belgium, said researchers currently have information from just two living tilcayos and a small number of camera-trap sightings.

One tilcayo at sanctuary

One of the animals studied is a ten-year-old male now living at the Senda Verde wildlife sanctuary in Bolivia after previously being kept in the home of a local family.

Features differ from tiger cats

Scientists became intrigued because the animal's features did not match existing descriptions of tiger cats, which were largely based on animals from Brazil.

DNA analysis of 38 cats

The researchers analysed DNA from 38 cats collected across several South American countries, including eight museum specimens.

Tiger cats comprise five species

Their findings suggest tiger cats actually comprise five genetically distinct species.

Tilcayo lineage split 1.4m years ago

Genetic analysis indicated that the tilcayo's lineage split from other tiger cats around 1.4million years ago.

New tiger cat subspecies in Peru

The researchers also identified a new tiger cat subspecies in Peru's Yungas region, which they named Leopardus tigrinus antisuyo after Antisuyu, the region of the Inca empire that once included its habitat.

Tiger cats vulnerable species

The International Union for Conservation of Nature currently treats tiger cats as two vulnerable species with declining populations.

Scientists share findings with IUCN

Researchers have now shared their findings with the IUCN, which is expected to consider the five lineages separately in its next review.