A newly identified wild feline species, smaller than an average domestic cat, has been formally recognized in Bolivia’s cloud-covered Yungas forest, the first such discovery in over a century. Known locally as tilcayo, the tiny predator belongs to the tiger cat group found across South America and thrives in the region’s humid, mountainous terrain. Researchers highlight its diminutive size—measuring under 18 inches and weighing around 3 pounds—as a key distinguishing trait. The find underscores the Yungas forest’s biodiversity and the ongoing potential for new species to be uncovered in unexplored ecosystems.
New species of wild feline was discovered in Bolivia’s Yungas forest that is smaller than the average domestic catA diminutive wild cat that inhabits Bolivia’s cloud forest has been identified as a previously unknown species, marking the first time a new living feline species has been formally named and described in more than a century.The cat, called tilcayo by local communities, is part of a group called tiger cats found across much of South America. It was found in Bolivia’s lush Yungas forest, a mountainous region where forests are often covered by clouds and surrounded by high humidity, according to researchers. It measures about 18in (46cm) long and weighs about 3lb (1.4kg), making it smaller than the average domestic cat. Continue reading...
