In 2016, biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, a National Geographic Explorer, was contacted by a local wildlife sanctuary in Bolivia regarding a peculiar cat that had been found as a kitten near a forest. The cat, initially thought to be a domestic breed, was taken to the sanctuary after the finder realized it was truly wild. As the lead scientist of the Bolivian Felids Research Program, Nogales-Ascarrunz was captivated by the small animal, which had distinctive features including a small face, short ears, and leopard-like spots.
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What Nogales-Ascarrunz did not know at the time was that this intriguing cat would turn out to be the first new species of felid discovered in over a century, according to research published in the journal Current Biology. Unlike previously recognized subspecies, this cat represented a completely new species.
Initially, Nogales-Ascarrunz assumed the cat was part of the Leopardus tigrinus species, also known as tigrinas or oncillas, which was first documented in 1775. However, in 2019, while creating a booklet on Bolivia's feline species, she noticed discrepancies in the physical appearance of the cat compared to references in guidebooks.
Years later, after developing her skills in genetic analysis, she collaborated with geneticist Eduardo Eizirik and co-author Jonas Lescroart to investigate the genome of this cat. Their research led to the identification of the species as Leopardus tilcayo, named after the term used by local people.
Currently, the cat is known to inhabit Bolivia’s Yungas forest ecoregion, but its dietary habits, predators, and reproductive behaviors remain largely unknown. The discovery not only marks the first new cat identified since the pampas cat in 1923 but also suggests substantial revisions to the cat family tree.
Utilizing advanced genomic analyses, scientists have uncovered hidden species variations that were not discernible through traditional methods. The research indicates that Leopardus tilcayo diverged from other tiger cat species approximately 1.4 million years ago.
The implications of this discovery are far-reaching for conservation efforts. If multiple distinct species exist within what was previously considered a single population, each will require separate assessments for conservation status. As Eizirik noted, misrepresenting the species could downplay the need for urgent conservation actions.
Nogales-Ascarrunz emphasizes the vast complexity of the natural world and the importance of continued discovery and protection of unknown species. This remarkable finding highlights the ongoing challenges in understanding biodiversity, underscoring that even in a well-studied family like cats, new species can still be identified.