# Earth's Newest Wild Cat Species Named

> Scientists identify Bolivia's first new wild cat species in over a century.
- Title: Earth's Newest Wild Cat Species Named · Seattletimes
- Summary: Scientists identify Bolivia's first new wild cat species in over a century. Bolivia's Yungas region sanctuary cat, Leopardus tilcayo, is the first new wild…
- Keywords: leopardus tilcayo, b bolivia, yungas region, national geographic, panthera, current biology, wildlife sanctuary, deforestation, news, local, Earth's, Newest
- Source: Seattletimes — https://seattletimes.com/seattle-news/science/meet-earths-newest-wild-cat-species-the-first-named-in-over-a-century
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: leopardus tilcayo, b bolivia, yungas region, national geographic, panthera, current biology, wildlife sanctuary, deforestation, news, local
## New Wild Cat Species
Scientists named a previously unknown cat species in Bolivia's Yungas region, the first new wild cat species in over a century.

> A previously unknown cat species has been identified in plain sight: at a wildlife sanctuary in Bolivia, where the small, spotted feline had been living for years.
## Tiny Cat Discovery
The male cat, now 10 years old, measures 18 inches (46 centimeters) from head to tail base and weighs 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms).

> Its light brown coat is patterned with dark, leopardlike spots.
## Genetic Analysis
Researchers compared genomes from over 30 cats across Colombia, Peru, Brazil and preserved museum samples to trace its lineage.

> To locate the cat in South America’s feline family tree, researchers compared genomes, complete sets of genetic instructions, from over 30 cats across locations including Colombia, Peru and Brazil.
## 1.4 Million Years Ago
The species split from relatives 1.4 million years ago, with the last named feline species being the Uruguayan pampas cat in 1923.

> The analysis revealed that the sanctuary cat belonged to a previously unrecognized species whose lineage split from its relatives about 1.4 million years ago.
## Local Name
Researchers named the cat Leopardus tilcayo after the local term for the Andes cloud forests where it lives.

> the researchers named this one Leopardus tilcayo, preserving the moniker used by communities in the tropical cloud forests of the Andes Mountains in Bolivia where the animal lives.
## Five Species Mystery
The discovery reveals at least five distinct tiger cat species in South America, including four previously named and the new tilcayo.

> The researchers’ DNA analysis pointed to at least five distinct species, four previously named, plus the newly described tilcayo.
## Wildlife Protection
Scientists hope the new species designation helps protect its Yungas forest habitat from deforestation and gold mining threats.

> Scientists hope the designation of the new species will help protect its forest habitat, which faces threats from accelerating deforestation and gold mining.
## Key takeaway

Bolivia's Yungas region sanctuary cat, Leopardus tilcayo, is the first new wild cat species named since 1923.