There’s a new cat in town, but this one won’t curl up on your hamper, knead your sweaters or squeeze in front of your screen during a Zoom meeting.
Scientists recently recognized Leopardus tilcayo, a dainty spotted feline native to Bolivia’s cloud forests, as a distinct species of tiger cat, a group of small wild cats belonging to the ocelot lineage. They also found that there are actually five different species of tiger cats out there, and the tilcayo is one of them.
And yes, the names are indeed a mishmash of spots and stripes. Tiger cats belong to the Leopardus genus, but are actually neither tigers nor leopards — though they do look like miniature versions of the latter.
The first new wild cat described in over a century, the tilcayo has a story that began with one family’s unsuccessful attempt to turn what they thought was a kitten named Tigrino into a pet. The stray stuck to his wild ways, and the family eventually brought him to a wildlife sanctuary. Genetic tests that confirmed his lineage later explained why domestication was not in the cards for Tigrino.
How does this story fit into the larger evolutionary landscape?
Northeastern marine and environmental studies professor Stephanie Eby and other experts shared their thoughts.
Read more at Northeastern Global News
AP Photo/Juan Karita
