Bolivia names new tiny wild cat
New cat species identified in Bolivia for first time in more than a century
Thursday, 17 September 2026
Warm-up
- What wild cats live in your region or country?
- How do scientists decide if an animal is a new species?
- Why is protecting small animals sometimes difficult?
Vocabulary
- species
- a group of living things that are similar and can breed
- genetic
- related to DNA and how living things are built
- sanctuary
- a safe place where animals are protected
- specimen
- a single example used for study
- vulnerable
- at risk of harm or decline and needing protection
- subspecies
- a smaller group within a species with special features
- lineage
- a line of ancestors from which a species comes
- humidity
- the amount of water vapour in the air
Reading
Scientists have identified a new wild cat in Bolivia’s Yungas cloud forest, the first living cat species to be formally named in more than a century. Locals call it tilcayo; its scientific name is Leopardus tilcayo. It is about 46cm long and 1.4kg, smaller than a domestic cat, with light brown fur and rosettes. Researchers have been analysing genetic data and confirmed it as a separate species.
Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz and Jonas Lescroart said little is known about its lifestyle. Camera-trap images suggest it is often active at night, and scat shows it eats small rodents. One 10-year-old male now lives at the Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary after being kept by a family. The Yungas is a mountainous forest, with frequent cloud and high humidity.
The team studied DNA from 38 cats, including eight museum specimens. They found tiger cats are five species, not one. The tilcayo lineage split about 1.4 million years ago. The researchers also named a new tiger cat subspecies in Peru’s Yungas. The IUCN currently lists tiger cats as two vulnerable species; a new review will assess five lineages.
Comprehension
- Where was the new cat species found?
- What is the cat’s scientific name?
- How big is the tilcayo compared to a domestic cat?
- What suggests the cat is active at night?
- How many tiger cat species did the DNA study find?
Grammar focus
Present perfect continuous
Use have/has + been + verb‑ing for activities that started in the past and are still continuing or have recently stopped. It shows ongoing actions with a connection to now. (Example 2 constructed.)
- Researchers have been analysing genetic data.
- Field teams have been searching the Yungas for specimens.
Practise this grammar: Present perfect simple and continuous (B2)
Grammar exercise
Complete each sentence using the present perfect continuous.
- Researchers (study) ___ the museum specimens for months.
- Since its discovery, scientists (try) ___ to study the tilcayo.
- One male tilcayo (live) ___ at a sanctuary for some time.
- Researchers (compare) ___ DNA from many samples over the past year.
- Camera traps (record) ___ the cat’s night activity for months.
Discussion
- Why might a small cat be hard for scientists to study?
- What could Bolivia do to protect the tilcayo?
- Should museums collect animal specimens? Why or why not?
- How can DNA help conservation in your country?
Vocabulary, reading, and exercises with instant feedback
Spotted a mistake in this lesson? Tell us.