A Leopardus tilcayo cat, a newly identified species through research led by National Geographic Explorer Paola Nogales Ascarrunz, walks at the Senda Verde animal refuge in the Yungas region, Bolivia, September 1, 2026. Fernando Faciole/National Geographic/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED AND PROCESSED BY A THIRD PARTY AND IS DISTRIBUTED BY REUTERS AS RECEIVED.

New cat species found, first in more than 100 years

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New cat species found, first in more than 100 years

A new species of living cat has been identified for the first time in more than a century. Found in Bolivia’s Yungas forest, it is smaller than a regular house cat, weighing just around 3 pounds and measuring 18 inches long. Known locally as Tilcayo, it belongs to the group of tiger cats.