Spotted Bolivian Wildcat Confirmed as First New Cat Species in a Century

A spotted wildcat found in Bolivian forests has been confirmed as a species new to science, according to reports from Al Jazeera, the BBC, CBC, National Geographic and The New York Times. The identification marks the first time a new cat species has been described in roughly a century, the outlets reported.

The animal, a small spotted cat from Bolivia's forest habitat, had previously gone unrecognized as a distinct species. News of its formal recognition was reported on Friday, September 18, 2026.

Coverage of the finding was carried widely, with CBC describing it as the first new cat species identified in 100 years and National Geographic framing it the same way. The BBC reported that the spotted wildcat from the Bolivian forest had been revealed as a new species. Al Jazeera also covered the announcement.

The reports did not include details in the material available on how the species was distinguished, who led the research, or where exactly in Bolivia the cat was found. Those specifics were not provided in the summaries reviewed.

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The discovery adds a new entry to the global list of known cat species, a list that had not gained a new member for about a century before this finding, according to the reporting.

What to watch next: further reporting is expected to detail the scientific evidence behind the classification and the cat's range in Bolivia.