Discover the First New Wild Cat Species in Over a Century

WHO:

PBS - Bolivian biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, a National Geographic explorer, is one of the study's lead authors.

PBS - Jonas Lescroart, an evolutionary biologist and study co-author, is affiliated with the University of Antwerp.

WHAT:

Phys.org - A previously unknown wild cat species has been identified.

PBS - The new species is named Leopardus tilcayo, marking the first time a new living wild cat species has been named in over a century.

PBS - The last formally identified feline species was the Uruguayan pampas cat in 1923.

PBS - The male cat measures 18 inches (46 centimeters) from head to the base of its tail and weighs 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms).

WHERE:

Phys.org - The new cat species was discovered at a wildlife sanctuary in Bolivia.

PBS - The sanctuary is located in the Yungas region of Bolivia.

WHEN:

PBS - The discovery was reported in the journal Current Biology on a Thursday.

WHY:

PBS - The researchers named the species tilcayo to honor the name already used by local communities in the tropical cloud forests of the Andes Mountains in Bolivia.

PBS - The designation of the new species aims to help protect its forest habitat, which faces threats from deforestation and mining.

HOW:

PBS - Researchers compared genomes from over 30 cats across locations including Colombia, Peru, and Brazil to locate the cat in South America's feline family tree.

PBS - DNA from bones and skins preserved in U.S. and European museums was used to fill gaps where fresh samples were unavailable.

(UPDATED September 19, 2026 14:56 UTC)

A previously unknown wild cat species has been identified and named Leopardus tilcayo, marking the first time a new living wild cat species has been named in over a century. The discovery, led by Bolivian biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz and evolutionary biologist Jonas Lescroart, took place at a wildlife sanctuary in the Yungas region of Bolivia, where researchers utilized DNA from over 30 cats and museum specimens to establish its place in South America's feline family tree. This new species, which measures 18 inches from head to tail and weighs 3 pounds, was named to honor local communities and aims to raise awareness for the protection of its forest habitat, currently threatened by deforestation and mining.