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The purr-fect new cat species discovered in Bolivia

WBUR
Published September 21, 2026 at 11:07 AM CDT
A small spotted wild cat identified as a new species, Leopardus tilcayo, walks inside Senda Verde wildlife sanctuary in Bolivia's Yungas region, near Coroico, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (Juan Karita/AP)
Juan Karita/AP
A small spotted wild cat identified as a new species, Leopardus tilcayo, walks inside Senda Verde wildlife sanctuary in Bolivia's Yungas region, near Coroico, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (Juan Karita/AP)

What looks like a leopard, but is tinier than a house cat? It’s a brand new species of cat.

Leopardus tilcayo, the first new cat species discovered in a hundred years, was found in Bolivia.

Host Scott Tong speaks with one of the co-authors of the paper, Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, a biologist and National Geographic explorer.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.

Copyright 2026 WBUR
Science & Health
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