Posted on 09/17/2026 2:44:44 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
Named Leopardus tilcayo, the new cat looks not unlike a leopard that shrank to the size of a house kitten.
A new cat has been discovered in Bolivia, the first time in more than a century that scientists have confirmed a new feline species in the world.
Named Leopardus tilcayo, after the word by which locals referred to it, the cat weighs roughly five pounds, is spotted with a slender body and has a light brown coat patterned with dark rosettes, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Current Biology.
It looks not unlike a leopard that shrank to the size of a house kitten.
In fact, biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz told National Geographic that when she first saw the cat at a Bolivian wildlife sanctuary in 2016, she assumed it was a member of the Leopardus tigrinus species, which have similar leopard-like markings and had been discovered in the late 18th century.
However, Nogales-Ascarrunz noticed that the cat in Bolivia had larger rosettes than existing illustrations of Leopardus tigrinus. Subsequent genetic tests confirmed it was an entirely new species.
“Our world is extremely complex,” Nogales-Ascarrunz told the magazine. “Sometimes we think that most of it is known, that there’s not a whole lot to discover, but in fact, it’s the other way around.”
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
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ping
A house cat with the attitude of a tiger. What could go wrong?
Wow. I wonder how many other critters we still don’t know anything about.
Cute cat but yeah, definitely has an attitude. Jungle life is tough.
He’s a cutie...well it came from someplace...that makes it not new.....
Very cute. I’d love to have one stuffed and mounted in my den
Too cute. Has to have a tough life being that small. Most of mine are much bigger.
I HAVE A HOUSE CAT WITH THE ATTITUDE OF A TIGER.
first time I took her to the vet, vet laughed. “You have a Tri-colored Tabby, very smart and very fierce. “
finally, after eight years of cat bites, Daisy has slowed down. Just scratches me, the occasional bite. Clearly, my job is to protect and serve her, which delights me. I’ve always liked animals better than people.
I HAVE A HOUSE CAT WITH THE ATTITUDE OF A TIGER.
first time I took her to the vet, vet laughed. “You have a Tri-colored Tabby, very smart and very fierce. “
finally, after eight years of cat bites, Daisy has slowed down. Just scratches me, the occasional bite. Clearly, my job is to protect and serve her, which delights me. I’ve always liked animals better than people.
It is absolutely adorable. I hope they didn't give away its location, because dealers in the pet trade would catch all of them they could and start breeding house cat/new cat hybrids to ready them for the pet trade.
I want one. He could play with my Maine coons
Don’t show my sister!
What a shame that would be. Most cats are too easily semi domesticated. The lounge lizard sitting with me now though wants no part of ever having any part of returning to his roots. Hunting little frogs out by the pond, but only if I sit on the dock providing security, is as far as he or any of the rest of my gang want to walk on the wild side.
That kitty is beautiful! I wonder if they can be domesticated. Probably...
You guys need to label links as a song when you do that, it would save us clicking on what we think are more news on the story, or in that case video of the cat in question.
WANT!!!!! 😍
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Good suggestion. Will do.
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