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New cat species identified in Bolivia for first time in more than a century
New species of wild cat was discovered in Bolivia’s Yungas forest and is smaller than the average domestic cat
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A diminutive wild cat that inhabits Bolivia’s cloud forest has been identified as a previously unknown species, marking the first time a new living cat species has been formally named and described in more than a century.
The cat, called Tilcayo by local communities, 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 18in (46cm) long and weighs about 3lbs (1.4kg), making it smaller than the average domestic cat.
