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DNA studies identify Leopardus tilcayo as a new wild cat species in Bolivia
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Researchers have confirmed a new species of small wild cat, the Tilcaya cat, using DNA analysis of a living animal and museum specimens.
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The new species, Leopardus tilcayo, was identified via DNA studies of a cat nicknamed Tigrino.
The discovery suggests the total number of recognized cat species may increase from 41 to 44 or 45.
Only one living member of the species is currently known, residing in a Bolivian wildlife sanctuary.
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Scientists identified the Tilcaya cat after noticing a 10-year-old rescue animal in Bolivia exhibited behaviors different from domestic cats. Because the animal's appearance closely resembles other tiger cats, it had previously gone unnoticed by researchers. DNA analysis was required to distinguish it from similar species.
The research, published in Current Biology, indicates that the group of tiger cats in Central and South America contains five species instead of three. This taxonomic shift expands the known Felidae family from 41 species to potentially 44 or 45. The process relied on combining data from living animals and museum specimens.
Conservation efforts for the species are currently limited because its exact habitat and population size remain unknown. The species is considered vulnerable due to illegal hunting, habitat loss, and deforestation. Identifying the species is described as the first step toward establishing protection measures.
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