New wild cat species discovered for first time in a century

Researchers identified the tilcayo, or Leopardus tilcayo, as the first new feline species discovered in over a century. Found in Bolivia, this small spotted wild cat was previously known to local communities but unrecognized by science. A male specimen named Tigrino weighs roughly three pounds and measures 18 inches from head to tail base. This discovery marks a significant milestone in feline research, revealing a species that had been hiding in plain sight before its formal identification.