Specimen Dossier
Taxon: Leopardus sp. nov.
Bolivian Highland Feline
Reported by NBC News as the first novel wild cat species cataloged in a century. Native to the rugged Yungas and cloud-forest escarpments of Bolivia, adults mature to approximately the compact footprint of an ordinary domestic kitten.
Morphology Comparison Subject
1:1 Kitten Scale
Specimen Silhouette (Estimated)
Grid Scale: 5cm
Bolivian Wild Cat
1.4 kg • 34 cm
Domestic Kitten
1.2 - 1.8 kg • 30-35 cm
Coat Pattern
Dense rosette & slate-grey underfur
Size Contrast
95% volume match to 10-wk kitten
⏳ 100-Year Feline Discovery Gap
Milestone
c. 1920s
Last Major Continental Cat Classification
Historical field expeditions defined South American small wildcats before modern genomic tools.
1926 – 2025
Centurylong Identification Drought
Subspecies reclassifications occurred, but zero brand new distinct wild cat species were formally described in Bolivia.
2026 Discovery
New Bolivian Feline Confirmed
Dispatched by researchers & verified by international zoology bureaus: kitten-sized and endemic to Bolivian cloud biomes.
🗺️ Bolivian Micro-Habitat Simulator
Simulate elevation, canopy moisture, and thermal niche for the specimen.
3,200 m
1,200m (Foothills)
4,400m (Puna Steppe)
82%
Dry Scrub
Dense Cloud Mist
Environmental Viability Radar
Viability: 96% Optimal
Estimated Mean Temp
8.4 °C
High altitude nocturnal adaptation
Prey Profile
Andean mice, large beetles
Calibrated to 1.4 kg predatory mass
📋 Field Report Compiler
Synthesize observations into an authoritative biodiversity brief.
✓ Brief compiled & exported!