For centuries, human beings have been exploring forests, grasslands and oceans for scientific research and better understanding of the world’s ecosystems. Despite technological advancements in contemporary society, nature still has surprises left to reveal. Deep in the wilds, where footsteps are rare, new species emerge from the shadows.
Recently, an international team of scientists led by National Geographic Explorer Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz identified the first new cat species in over a century, the Leopardus tilcayo, in Bolivia’s Yungas Cloud Forest. The discovery attracted worldwide attention, not only for the species’ distinctive appearance, but also for its reminder about how much is left unknown on the planet.
Weighing much lighter than normal house cats, the tilcayo has a slender body covered with light-brown fur and irregular rosettes. Its leopard-like patterns and banded tail give it the unmistakable features of a wild feline. At first glance, it is not easy to differentiate it from previously known species, but it was thanks to the scientists’ continuous devotion to practicing genetic studies that led to the final conclusion that the tilcayo was indeed a new species.
In fact, the first encounter humans had with the Leopardus tilcayo dates back to 2017. A local Bolivian man found the tilcayo as a kitten on the road by the Yungas Cloud Forest. A year after he took it home, he decided to send it to the wildlife sanctuary, where it was brought to the attention of Nogales-Ascarrunz as a “strange cat.”
Nogales-Ascarrunz confused the tilcayo with an existing species, Leopardus tigrinus, when she first met it. However, it was during her preparation for a booklet about Bolivia’s cat species in 2019 when she realized the dark spots of the new species were much bigger than those of typical tiger cats in the reference photo from neighboring Brazil.
Since then, Nogales-Ascarrunz worked with a team of scientists, including Eduardo Eizirik, a geneticist at Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, and Jonas Lescroart, a co-lead author from the University of Antwerp, to distinguish the tilcayo from former species. After years of cooperation with the native people in Bolivia and genetic analysis, the scientists were finally able to conclude that the tilcayo was a new species.
Finding a new cat species can represent an opportunity to better understand the natural environment. Even if the tilcayo was a wild predator of noticeable size, locals could not recognize that it was a new species until the scientists took a closer look. This discovery teaches human beings an important yet neglected lesson: we may know less about our planet than we think. If one such conspicuous species could remain hidden for so long, how many other new species are left to discover in the future?
The answer might lie in those areas where human activities remain limited. The Yungas Cloud Forest, a mountainous region with steep terrain and humid atmosphere, restricts most scientific study. This disguises many species, placing them beyond the reach of scientists. Even so, not only the forest itself, but also all the other unexplored areas still attract scientific attention. Getting to know about new species also allows us to know about the environment we live in and how we can peacefully coexist with nature.
The discovery of Leopardus tilcayo does not mark the end of studies of it, but a new start for more thorough research on its habitats, distribution, natural threats, etc. Familiarity with other fascinating species reveals how much more awaits our recognition outside of assumed knowledge.