Scientists Identify the First New Wild Cat Species in 100 Years
Leopardus tilcayo, a house-cat-sized spotted cat, lives in Bolivia's Yungas cloud forest.
Researchers have described Leopardus tilcayo — the tilcayo tiger cat — in Current Biology, the first new wild cat species identified in a century.
It is slender, spotted, smaller than a typical house cat, and lives in the Bolivian Yungas where the Andes meet the Amazon. Co-author Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz noted that most newly named animals are tiny invertebrates. This time, it is a cat.
Population size is unknown. All South American tiger cats face vanishing habitat as agriculture expands. Naming the species is the first step to counting it, and counting it is the first step to protecting it.
Key Facts
- First new wild cat species in about 100 years
- Described in Current Biology, 17 September 2026
- Range: Bolivian Yungas cloud forest
Why This Matters
A new mid-sized mammal in 2026 is rare. Discovery concentrates attention on a cloud-forest corridor under agricultural pressure.
What We Don't Know Yet
Discovery is not recovery. Numbers are unknown. Habitat is under pressure. Taxonomy debates can follow new species descriptions.
Sources: NBC News
Published 21 September 2026 · Category: Environment & Climate