Overview
- The study published Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in Current Biology formally describes Leopardus tilcayo and revises the 'gatos tigre' complex into at least five distinct Leopardus species.
- The specimen that led to the discovery was a kitten found near a Yungas road in 2016, raised by a local family, moved to Senda Verde sanctuary and later identified by researchers through genetic study.
- Leopardus tilcayo is a very small spotted cat about 46 cm head-to-body and roughly 1.3–1.4 kg with larger rosette-like spots, a longer thin tail, rounded ears and a paler coat tone.
- Researchers have begun camera-trap surveys and genetic sampling in the Yungas and have shared results with the IUCN so formal conservation assessments can proceed, but the species’ population size and range remain unknown.
- The finding used whole-genome sequencing plus museomic comparisons of modern and museum specimens to reveal cryptic diversity, a result that could force species-by-species conservation reappraisals for these threatened cloud forests.