New Wild Cat Species Identified in Bolivia's Cloud Forest
Researchers say the small feline, known locally as the tilcayo, is the first new living cat species to be formally described in more than a century.
A previously unknown species of wild cat has been identified in Bolivia's Yungas cloud forest, according to researchers, marking what they describe as the first time a new living feline species has been formally named and described in more than 100 years.
The animal, called the tilcayo by local communities, belongs to a group known as tiger cats, which are found across much of South America, researchers said.
According to the researchers, the cat was discovered in the Yungas forest, a mountainous region in Bolivia characterized by frequent cloud cover and high humidity.
The tilcayo measures about 18 inches (46 centimeters) in length and weighs approximately 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms), making it smaller than the average domestic cat, researchers noted.
Details of the discovery were reported by The Guardian, which cited researchers involved in the identification of the species.
Sources
- New cat species identified for first time in more than a century in Bolivia — The Guardian — World
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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