Last week, a new species of cat was announced from Bolivia, and it caught the attention of people worldwide. This cat is called the tilcayo (Leopardus tilcayo) and is a small spotted creature found in the Yungas cloud forests of Bolivia. This discovery marks the first time in over a hundred years that a new living cat species has been identified. Unlike other cats that have been labeled as new due to changes in classification, the tilcayo had not been officially described by scientists until now.
Research shows that the tilcayo’s genetic background separated from other tiger cats approximately 1.4 million years ago. This finding is part of a larger effort to examine and update the classification of cat species. Some populations that were once thought to be subspecies or regional variants are now being recognized or suggested as distinct species. According to Tadeu Gomes de Oliveira, a wildlife biologist and conservationist from Brazil, there could be many more discoveries in the future. Oliveira has dedicated many years to studying small wild cats in the Neotropics.
He serves as one of the co-chairs for the Cat Specialist Group within the IUCN Species Survival Commission. In addition, he teaches biology at Maranhão State University (UEMA) in São Luís, Brazil, and is a researcher and scientific advisor with Brazil’s Instituto Pró-Carnívoros. Oliveira also leads the Wild Cats Brazil/Americas Conservation Program and founded the Tiger Cats Conservation Initiative. His research has largely concentrated on the tiger-cat group, which includes species like Leopardus tigrinus, L. guttulus, and L. pardinoides. Furthermore, he has actively participated in the IUCN Red List assessments and conservation strategies in Brazil for many years.
Oliveira commented that the tiger-cat group is currently experiencing significant genetic changes. The ongoing research is likely to enhance the understanding of these small cats and their classifications. This new recognition of the tilcayo highlights how much there is still to learn about the biodiversity of wild cats. As more scientists study these fields, it seems likely that additional species may be identified in the coming years.
This article was originally published on Mongabay. What do you think about the discovery of the tilcayo?
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Source: Mongabay Animals