A 'Weird Cat' Rescued in Bolivia Turns Out to Be the First New Feline Species in Over 100 Years

The first new cat species discovered in 100 years

In 2016, a strange spotted cat was rescued near a Bolivian forest and brought to a wildlife sanctuary. Biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz photographed it, suspecting it was a known tiger cat. Years later, genomic analysis revealed it was a completely new species, Leopardus tilcayo, the first new felid discovered since 1923. The study also redraws the cat family tree, splitting tiger cats into five species and hinting at four distinct margay species, with major implications for conservation.