Topic

Researchers discover new Bolivian wildcat

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Researchers in Bolivia discovered a previously unknown wildcat species, the tilcayo (Leopardus tilcayo), in Andean cloud forests, smaller than a house cat and the first described in over a century.

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Leopardus tilcayo, the first new cat species discovered in 100 years.

Hiding in plain sight in the Bolivian yungas.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Spotted wildcat from Bolivian forest revealed as new species
A spotted wildcat long mistaken for relatives has been identified as a new species in Bolivia.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 18, 2026 at 8:48 AM
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BBC News - Spotted wildcat from Bolivian forest revealed as new species - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Spotted wildcat from Bolivian forest revealed as new species
A spotted wildcat long mistaken for relatives has been identified as a new species in Bolivia.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 18, 2026 at 1:02 PM

Reposted by John R. Hutchinson

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the cat is from bolivia and described by a bolivian scientist who literally works with the local community to protect and preserve the wildlife, so I'm not entirely sure how that can be construed as "colonizing"
Not new, and not discovered...still great news.

I offer a, perhaps, more accurate, less colonizing, title:

"Western scientists describe a felid known to local communities as Tilcayo. It is the first description of its kind in over a century"
🧪 New cat species identified in Bolivia, first in over a century - Called Tilcayo by local communities, it is part of a group called tiger cats found across much of South America

www.reuters.com/business/env...
September 18, 2026 at 11:01 AM
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“This cat, they call it tilcayo. And when you ask, ‘Does it have some meaning in Quechua or Almyra and other Indigenous languages?’ they say, ‘No, my grandpa told me that’s the tilcayo.’ This is a traditional knowledge that they have in the community.”
September 18, 2026 at 4:49 PM