{
  "id": 8935669,
  "title": "Meet the Adorable and Tiny Tilcayo, the First Brand-New Cat Species Identified in More Than a Century",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/meet-the-adorable-and-tiny-tilcayo-the-first-brand-new-cat-species",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-21T14:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Smithsonian",
    "slug": "smithsonian",
    "url": "https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meet-the-adorable-and-tiny-tilcayo-the-first-brand-new-cat-species-identified-in-more-than-a-century-180989528/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have identified a brand-new species of wild cat, the tilcayo, for the first time in over a century. The diminutive feline resides in the cloud forests of Bolivia, where the Andes Mountains meet the Amazon basin. Weighing only three to four pounds, the tilcayo boasts large, irregularly shaped rosettes adorning its light brown fur. This newfound species serves as a reminder of the vast mysteries that still exist within our natural world.\n\nThe story of the tilcayo began in 2016, when a local man stumbled upon a tiny cat on a road near La Paz, initially mistaking it for a domestic kitten. After realizing its wild origins, he brought the animal to the Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary, where biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz first encountered the mysterious creature, later named Tigrino. At first, Nogales-Ascarrunz suspected the cat might be a northern tiger cat (oncilla), but further investigation revealed its true identity as a separate species, L. tilcayo.\n\nGenetic testing confirmed L. tilcayo's unique status, and researchers named the species after the local name for the cat. Despite its small size and elusive nature, scientists know little about the tilcayo's diet, behavior, and population size. However, scat samples suggest the cats may consume small rodents, while wildlife camera footage hints at a nocturnal lifestyle. A genetic analysis of 38 individuals from the Leopardus genus revealed that L. tilcayo diverged from the lineage approximately 1.4 million years ago, during the Early Pleistocene, when climate fluctuations transformed tropical forests into savannas. The remaining montane forests served as climatic refuges for cloud forest species, leading to habitat fragmentation and the genetic divergence of different populations.\n\nThis discovery is particularly significant as it marks the first brand-new feline species identified since the pampas cat in 1923. With the addition of L. tilcayo, scientists have now described five distinct species of tiger cat found in Central and South America. The identification of more cat species highlights the importance of conservation efforts, as the fragmented populations may be more vulnerable to threats such as deforestation, habitat fragmentation, disease, and wildlife trafficking. As Jim Sanderson of the Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation notes, \"Once three species become five species, each population is reduced, therefore, conservation efforts must increase, perhaps urgently, depending on estimated population sizes.\"",
  "summary": "Discovered in a cloud forest in Brazil, the diminutive felines are smaller than a house cat and covered in large, irregularly shaped rosettes",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}