Meet Tigrino: Bolivia's newly identified Tilcayo cat species

By The Hindu

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Tigrino, a 10-year-old wildcat at Bolivia's Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary, is one of only two known living representatives of the newly identified Leopardus tilcayo species. He is the only one under permanent human care. The cat is part of a group called tiger cats found across much of South America. It was found in Bolivia's lush Yungas forest, a mountainous region where forests are often covered by clouds and surrounded by high humidity, according to researchers. It measures about 18 inches (46 cm) long and weighs around 3 pounds (1.4 kg), making it smaller than the average domestic cat. Rescued in 2017, he was kept by a local family in their home before arriving at the sanctuary, and has become the face of one of the most significant scientific discoveries in recent years. Researchers used genetic data to confirm that the cat is a new species, and gave it the scientific name Leopardus tilcayo, retaining its local name. Biologist and National Geographic Explorer

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