New wild cat species discovered in Bolivia after 100 years
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Neutral summary
Researchers have identified a new species of wild cat, the tilcayo (Leopardus tilcayo), for the first time in over a century. The cat, smaller than a house cat, lives in the cloud forests of Bolivia's Yungas region, where the Amazon meets the Andes. The discovery was made through DNA analysis by a team led by Brazilian professor Eduardo Eizirik. The same study also described a new subspecies, Leopardus tigrinus "antisuyo", from Peru's Yungas. Biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, one of the discoverers, said the cat had long gone unnoticed because it was mistaken for a domestic cat. Reports describe the tilcayo as the world's rarest feline, with unknown population numbers. However, Bolivian biologist Juan Carlos Huaranca expressed doubts about the "first in a century" status, noting the study relied on only two genetic samples. The new species is reportedly to be protected from poachers.
How it was framed
Outlets: 94. Countries: 24. Facts in the shared core: 4.
Publication timeline
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O Globo (outlet profile)
Onça em miniatura: Conheça o tilcayo, primeira espécie de felino descrita em mais de 100 anos que de pet nada tem. Com jeito de onça em miniatura, ele materializa mistério e beleza selvagens. Batizado de tilcayo (Leopar…
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Folha de S.Paulo (outlet profile)
Nova espécie de felino, primeira descoberta em um século, é achada por brasileiro. Usando análises de DNA, uma equipe liderada por um pesquisador brasileiro identificou como uma nova espécie um misterioso gato selvagem…
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La Vanguardia (outlet profile)
Descubierta una nueva especie de felino en Bolivia, la primera en más de un siglo. El tilcayo, de tamaño parecido a un gato doméstico, se ha identificado a partir del análisis de su genoma
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NBC News (outlet profile)
New wild cat species is identified for first time in 100 years, researchers say. Researchers say they’ve identified a new species of wild cat previously unknown to science. The Tilcayo tiger cat is smaller than a typica…
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G1 (outlet profile)
Professor brasileiro descobre que 'tigrinho' boliviano que já tinha até apelido era espécie inédita de felino selvagem. Professor de universidade do RS descobre nova espécie de felino selvagem Uma nova espécie de felino…
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UOL (outlet profile)
Nova espécie de felino, primeira descoberta em um século, é achada por brasileiro
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La Nación (outlet profile)
El hallazgo del “Tilcayo”: lo confundieron con un gato doméstico pero reveló la existencia de una nueva especie para la ciencia. Fue rescatado por una familia de campo que, luego de un año, comenzó a notar conductas atí…
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Channel NewsAsia (outlet profile)
New cat species identified in Bolivia, first in over a century
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Times of India (outlet profile)
Meet Tilcayo: Tiny wild cat discovered in Bolivia's forests after more than a century. Scientists have identified a new wild cat species in Bolivia's cloud forests. This small, slender cat is known locally as Tilcayo an…
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South China Morning Post (outlet profile)
New cat species identified in Bolivia, first in over a century. 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 cat s…
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Московская Хроника (outlet profile)
🐈 Новый вид кошек открыли впервые за 100 лет. Пушистиков назвали Тилкайо. Пока учёные смогли зарегистрировать только две особи.
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El Economista (outlet profile)
Descubren al gato Tilcayo en Bolivia: Es el primer felino identificado en más de 100 años. Un pequeño felino salvaje que habita en el bosque nuboso de Bolivia ha sido identificado como una especie hasta ahora desconocid…
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Clarín (outlet profile)
El "Tilcayo", un gato nuevo para la ciencia: cómo es la primera especie de felino descubierta en 100 años. Coloquialmente lo llaman "Tilcayo", y fue descubierto en Bolivia. Cuáles son sus principales características.
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Москва Live (outlet profile)
🐈Новый вид кошек открыли учёные впервые за 100 лет. Их назвали тилкайо (Leopardus tilcayo), они обитают в лесах Боливии и встречаются крайне редко. Длина их тела составляет около 46 см, а масса — примерно 1,4 кг. Они да…
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UOL (outlet profile)
Nova espécie de gato é identificada na Bolívia, a primeira em mais de um século. Por Marta Serafinko
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Дождь (tvrain.tv) (outlet profile)
Ученые впервые за 100 лет открыли новый вид кошек. Сколько их существует в природе, пока неизвестно.. Исследователи заявили, что им впервые за столетие удалось идентифицировать новый вид дикой кошки. Это подвид тигровог…
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Scientific American (outlet profile)
See the first new species of cat discovered in more than a century—it’s adorable. The cat is smaller than a house cat but has the spots of a leopard
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GB News (outlet profile)
Adorable new cat species identified for the first time in more than 100 years. Scientists have formally identified a tiny wild cat living in Bolivia's misty mountain forests as an entirely new species. Known as the Tilc…
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Olhar Digital (outlet profile)
O pequeno felino que enganou cientistas e virou a primeira nova espécie de gato em 100 anos. Animal pertence ao grupo conhecido como gatos-tigre, formado por felinos pequenos e difíceis de observar que vivem em diferent…
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Коммерсантъ (outlet profile)
Ученые впервые более чем за 100 лет обнаружили новый вид кошки. В Боливии впервые более чем за 100 лет обнаружили новый вид кошки, сообщает издание National Geographic. Длина первого представителя Leopardus tilcayo от г…
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Аргументы и факты (outlet profile)
Ученые впервые за более чем 100 лет открыли новый вид дикой кошки. В лесах Боливии нашли новый вид дикой кошки.
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UOL (outlet profile)
Gato confundido com doméstico acaba revelando nova espécie na Bolívia. Um pequeno gato selvagem das florestas montanhosas da Bolívia foi identificado como uma nova espécie após uma análise genética. Batizado de Leopardu…
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The Guardian (outlet profile)
New cat species identified in Bolivia for first time in more than a century. New species of wild cat was discovered in Bolivia’s Yungas forest and is smaller than the average domestic cat A diminutive wild cat that inh…
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Guardian Science (outlet profile)
New cat species identified in Bolivia for first time in more than a century. New species of wild cat was discovered in Bolivia’s Yungas forest and is smaller than the average domestic cat A diminutive wild cat that inh…
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Valor Economico (outlet profile)
Pesquisa em herbário de SC descobre seis espécies de plantas. Há cerca de cinco anos, o exemplar de uma planta presente no acervo do Herbário Barbosa Rodrigues (HBR) intrigou o curador do espaço, o biólogo Luís Adrian…
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O Globo (outlet profile)
Pesquisa em herbário de SC descobre seis espécies de plantas. Há cerca de cinco anos, o exemplar de uma planta presente no acervo do Herbário Barbosa Rodrigues (HBR) intrigou o curador do espaço, o biólogo Luís Adrian…
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Российская газета (outlet profile)
Ученые впервые за 100 лет открыли новый вид кошек. Исследователи впервые за столетие заявили, что им удалось идентифицировать новый вид диких кошек, ранее неизвестный науке, пишет NBC News .
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BBC News (outlet profile)
New wild cat species discovered - with only one known living member. A spotted wildcat long mistaken for relatives has been identified as a new species in Bolivia.
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New York Post (outlet profile)
New cat species identified for first time in 100 years — it’s 3 pounds and looks like a mini leopard. The adorable feline was identified in Bolivia's lush Yungas forest after biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz was called…
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УНИАН (outlet profile)
Учёные открыли новый вид из семейства кошачьих впервые за столетие. В настоящее время у учёных есть лишь один живой представитель этого вида, но где-то в джунглях Боливии должны быть ещё.
Factual core
- A new wild cat species was identified for the first time in more than a century.
- A new species of wild cat, Leopardus tilcayo, was discovered in Bolivia.
- The new species is named the Tilcayo tiger cat.
- The discovery was made in Bolivia.
In the daily issue: The day in brief — September 18, 2026