Scientists have identified a new species of wild cat for the first time in over a century. This discovery was shared by a Bolivian researcher with AFP. Known as the Tilcayo tiger cat, this small feline boasts a spotted, leopard-like fur pattern. It was found in the Yungas mountains, close to Bolivia’s capital, La Paz.

Locals initially mistook this creature for a regular house cat, according to Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, a biologist and National Geographic explorer. She was part of the research team that studied these animals. The name ’tilcayo’ given by locals has been adopted as its scientific name: Leopardus tilcayo.

An image of a Leopardus tilcayo was captured at the Senda Verde animal refuge in the Yungas region, as seen on September 1, 2026. Nogales-Ascarrunz praised the finding as a significant event, noting that no new wild cat species have been described for the last 100 years. The previous discovery of a feline species was the Uruguayan pampas cat in 1923.

The tilcayo cat is slightly smaller than a typical house cat, measuring approximately 18 inches. It features rounded ears and a distinctive coat. Currently, two tilcayos, the only ones discovered so far, have undergone comprehensive genome sequencing. This involves intensive genetic analysis.

A male tilcayo resides at a Yungas animal shelter, handed over by a family that had cared for it. Meanwhile, a female tilcayo was rescued and released back into the wild following an attack by locals. The research detailing this species was published in the journal Current Biology, completing investigations that commenced in 2021.

To date, the species has been located solely in Bolivia, nowhere else globally. Nogales-Ascarrunz mentioned their classification as vulnerable to extinction. Due to their meager population, they are at heightened risk of disappearing.