New spotted wildcat species identified in Bolivian forests; only one specimen known
Genetic tests show a small Carnivora from Bolivian forests is a distinct species; researchers hope it will boost conservation for tigrinas.
Scientists have confirmed that a small, spotted wildcat living in the forests of Bolivia represents a species previously unknown to science. About the size of a domestic cat, the animal had long been overlooked because its spots and stripes resemble those of several other small wildcats in the region.
Genetic analyses, however, show that this animal is genetically distinct and therefore constitutes a separate species. Researchers say the finding could redirect conservation attention toward the group of small, tiger-like wildcats that range across Central and South America.
Why the discovery matters
These tiger-like small wildcats (often referred to as tigrinas) inhabit territories from Costa Rica down to Bolivia and Argentina. Their external similarity makes them hard to tell apart even for specialists, which helps explain why this species remained hidden.
Scientists hope the description of the new species will highlight the conservation needs of these small spotted cats, which generally receive less attention than larger, more famous felids such as lions, leopards and tigers.
For the first time in more than a century a new species of living cat has been formally described and named, marking a rare occurrence in mammal taxonomy and underscoring how much remains unknown in tropical forest ecosystems.
Photo: Paola Nogales-Askarunc)
