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Scientists Identify First New Cat Species in Century — Sep 17, 2026Genetic analysis across South America identifies Leopardus tilcayo, a small Tilcayo tiger cat from Bolivia, as a distinct new species—the first to be named in about a century—and notes a broader reclassification that recognizes five tiger-cat species in the region, including a subspecies of L. tigrinus called antisuyo. The findings underscore biodiversity in the tiger-cat group amid conservation concerns and clarify the long-contested cat family tree.

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Tom Gallagher The split into five tiger-cat species should help target conservation better, but it also shows how fragile these small populations really are.