Researchers have identified an unknown species of wild cat in the cloud forests of Bolivia; The first new living species of the cat family to be officially named and described after more than a century.

Researchers have identified an unknown species of wild cat in the cloud forests of Bolivia; The first new living species of the cat family to be officially named and described after more than a century.

This small cat, which the local communities call "Tilkayo", lives in the mountainous and humid forests of the Yungas. Its body length is about 46 cm and its weight is about one and a half kilograms, and it is smaller than a normal house cat.

The researchers confirmed by examining the genetic data that this animal is an independent species and chose for it the scientific name Leopardus tilcayo.

There is still little information about the lifestyle of this species. The remains of small rodents in the faecal samples show that they are probably part of his food, and the pictures from Talhi's cameras also indicate that this cat may be more active at night.