Meet Earth’s newest wild cat species, the first named in over a century

Scientists have identified a new species of wild cat, named Leopardus tilcayo, in Bolivia. The discovery marks the first time a new living feline species has been formally named in over a century. The identification follows research conducted on a small, spotted cat weighing approximately three pounds that had previously lived as a house pet for about a year.

This finding represents a significant development in feline taxonomy, as the species had remained unrecognized by the scientific community until the recent study. The research provides formal classification for the animal, distinguishing it from previously known wild cat populations.