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New cat species identified for first time in more than a century in Bolivia

New species of wild feline was discovered in Bolivia’s Yungas forest that is smaller than the average domestic ⁠cat A diminutive wild cat that inhabits Bolivia’s ⁠cloud forest has been identified as a previously unknown …

RelxNews Staff17 September 2026 at 20:43 UTC1 min read
New cat species identified for first time in more than a century in Bolivia

New species of wild feline was discovered in Bolivia’s Yungas forest that is smaller than the average domestic ⁠cat A 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, . It measures about 18in (46cm) long and weighs about 3lb (1.

4kg), making it smaller than the average domestic ⁠cat. Continue reading...

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