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ScienceQuiet 46h · day 6

Scientists identify Leopardus tilcayo, first new wild cat species named in a century

Genetic analysis of a rescued Bolivian kitten and 37 other tiger cats revealed a previously unrecognized feline species in the Yungas cloud forests.

newest coverage 1d agosummary written 4d ago7 pieces240 likes & upvotes1 comments MastodonBlueskyNewswires

What to know

  • Leopardus tilcayo is the first new live wild cat species formally described in over a century.
  • The discovery began with a rescued kitten at a Bolivian shelter whose DNA did not match known tigrina species, later confirmed with a second specimen.
  • Genomic analysis of 38 cats showed the tigrina group is actually five genetically distinct species, not one.
  • Researchers say the finding could bring more conservation resources to Bolivia's Yungas cloud forest, threatened by deforestation, agriculture, fires and mining.

Jonas Lescroart Evolutionary biologist, University of AntwerpPaola Nogales-Ascarrunz National Geographic explorer, study co-authorEduardo Eizirik Scientist, study co-authorSenda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary Bolivian shelter housing the reference specimen

Scientists identify Leopardus tilcayo, first new wild cat species named in a century
nos.nl

How it unfolded 3 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 1 piece in two hours at Sep 17, 4 PM; 7 pieces over 6 days (3 articles · 4 posts) Sep 17, 4 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 17, 6 PM — quietSep 17, 8 PM — quietSep 17, 10 PM — quietSep 18, 12 AM — quietSep 18, 2 AM — quietSep 18, 4 AM — quietSep 18, 6 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 18, 8 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Bluesky 1Sep 18, 10 AM — quietSep 18, 12 PM — quietSep 18, 2 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 18, 4 PM — quietSep 18, 6 PM — quietSep 18, 8 PM — quietSep 18, 10 PM — quietSep 19, 12 AM — quietSep 19, 2 AM — quietSep 19, 4 AM — quietSep 19, 6 AM — quietSep 19, 8 AM — quietSep 19, 10 AM — quietSep 19, 12 PM — quietSep 19, 2 PM — quietSep 19, 4 PM — quietSep 19, 6 PM — quietSep 19, 8 PM — quietSep 19, 10 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 20, 12 AM — quietSep 20, 2 AM — quietSep 20, 4 AM — quietSep 20, 6 AM — quietSep 20, 8 AM — quietSep 20, 10 AM — quietSep 20, 12 PM — quietSep 20, 2 PM — quietSep 20, 4 PM — quietSep 20, 6 PM — quietSep 20, 8 PM — quietSep 20, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 12 AM — quietSep 21, 2 AM — quietSep 21, 4 AM — quietSep 21, 6 AM — quietSep 21, 8 AM — quietSep 21, 10 AM — quietSep 21, 12 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 21, 2 PM — quietSep 21, 4 PM — quietSep 21, 6 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 12 AM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 6 AM — quietSep 22, 8 AM — quietSep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quiet 123
Sep 18Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22yesterdaynow · 2:03 AM ET
  1. 3

    Dutch broadcaster NOS resurfaces the discovery

    NOS reshares its report on the tilcayo's discovery, keeping the story circulating internationally days after initial publication.

    • NOS@mastodon.social

      Biologen ontdekken nieuw soort tijgerkat in Bolivia: de tilcayo

      NOS@mastodon.socialMastodon4d agoview on Mastodon ↗
  2. 2

    Coverage highlights conservation stakes for the tilcayo

    Spanish-language outlets note the species' scientific name honors the local communities who found and cared for the animal, and report that researchers are deploying camera traps in the Yungas to study its population and habitat amid deforestation and mining pressures.

  3. 1

    Study details reveal tiger cats are five distinct species

    Reporting expands on the genetic analysis, explaining that the tigrina group long considered one widespread species is actually five genetically distinct lineages, with the tilcayo's lineage splitting off roughly 1.4 million years ago.

    “Nunca esperamos que este gato tigre boliviano fuera una especie separada, y nadie lo había propuesto nunca como un animal diferente, subespecie o de otro tipo…”
    — Jonas Lescroart
    • eldiario.es

      Un equipo de científicos encuentra en Bolivia el tilcayo, la primera especie de felino descubierta en más de 100 años

      eldiario.esBluesky5d ago240▲view on Bluesky ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 3 posts in this stretch
    • NOSRSS@mastodon.online

      Biologen ontdekken nieuw soort tijgerkat in Bolivia: de tilcayo Voor het eerst in een eeuw hebben biologen een nieuwe katachtige ontdekt. Het is een kleine wilde kat die in de Andes leeft. De soort is voor het eerst beschreven in het vaktijdschrift Current Biology. De Leopardus tilcayo is iets kleiner dan een huiskat en werd ontdekt in het…

      NOSRSS@mastodon.onlineMastodon6d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    • climatica_coop@mastodon.social

      ‘Leopardus tilcayo’: identifican en Bolivia una nueva especie de felino, la primera en más de un siglo https:// climatica.coop/leopardus-tilca yo-identifican-bolivia-nueva-especie-felino/

      climatica_coop@mastodon.socialMastodon5d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  4. background

    Team publishes new cat species Leopardus tilcayo in Current Biology — Researchers formally described the Leopardus tilcayo, or tilcayo cat, from Bolivia's Yungas cloud forest as a new species based on whole-genome sequencing of 38 cats, including museum specimens — the first live wild cat species newly named in more than 100 years.

  5. background

    Rescued kitten's unusual DNA sparks the investigation — A spotted wild kitten that did not match descriptions of Brazilian tigrinas was brought to a Bolivian wildlife shelter; a routine blood test during veterinary care revealed DNA unlike known tiger cat species, prompting further study. A second specimen later confirmed the anomaly.

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