New wild cat species Leopardus tilcayo described in Bolivia
Scientists in Bolivia have described a new species of wild cat, Leopardus tilcayo, found in the Yungas mountain forests, based on genetic analysis of a kitten discovered in 2015. The discovery marks the first officially recognized new modern cat species in over 100 years.
Consensus
- Scientists in Bolivia have described a new wild cat species named Leopardus tilcayo.
- The discovery is the first officially recognized new modern cat species described in over 100 years.
- The cat was first identified from a kitten found on a road near the Yungas forest in 2015.
- The kitten was taken home by a Bolivian resident and later transferred to a reserve.
- Initial identification as Leopardus tigrinus was revised after genetic analysis revealed it to be a distinct species.
- The species is native to the mountain forests of Yungas on the eastern slopes of the Andes in Bolivia.
- The name 'tilcayo' comes from a local indigenous language, used by native inhabitants to refer to the animal.
- The discovery was made possible by advances in molecular genetics, which revealed genetic differences previously undetectable through morphological analysis.
- The species belongs to the genus Leopardus, which includes up to 15 species, and its classification is still under review.
Points of divergence
- Scientists first noticed the animals in 2016, and it took about ten years to achieve official recognition. — vm
- The idea of domesticating the tilcayo faces significant challenges, according to the expert. — vm
- A company called 'Vetbiokhim' is offering compensation to dog owners who lost pets after vaccination with 'Multikan-8'. — vm
Coverage (2 sources)
- Scientists describe new species of wild cats in Bolivia Leopardus tilcayo — РИАМО
- Cat tilcayo: species features, what is known — Вечерняя Москва