A new cat species has been discovered in Bolivia
A previously unknown cat species has been identified at a wildlife sanctuary in Bolivia, where the small, spotted feline had been living for years after being taken in by a local family.
The discovery, reported on Thursday in the journal Current Biology, marks the first time scientists have named and described a new living wild cat species in more than a century.
To locate the cat in South America’s feline family tree, researchers compared genomes — complete sets of genetic instructions — from over 30 cats across locations including Colombia, Peru and Brazil.
The analysis revealed that the cat at the sanctuary belonged to a previously unrecognised species whose lineage diverged from its relatives about 1.4 million years ago.
The next challenge is finding out more about these tiny cats in the wild.
Scientists hope the designation of the new species will help protect its forest habitat, which faces threats from deforestation and mining.
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