New wild cat species discovered - with only one known living member

Written and edited by the WorldPing NewsdeskPublished Updated Original reporting: BBC Science
New wild cat species discovered - with only one known living memberWorldPing
Image via BBC Science.

What happened

A spotted wildcat long mistaken for relatives has been identified as a new species in Bolivia.

Key facts

  • Reported by BBC Science and published Thu, 17 Sep 2026 23:15:55 UTC.

Why it matters

Research findings and mission results set the evidence base that policy, funding and later discoveries build on.

What to watch next

  • Peer review status and replication of the findings
  • Mission milestones and next scheduled attempt
  • Funding or policy decisions that follow

Coverage timeline

When each newsroom published on this story, oldest first — all times UTC.

  1. Scientists name a new cat species for the first time in over a century

  2. Beautiful new cat species is first to be named in a century

  3. This million-year-old 'baby planet' is the youngest world scientists have ever discovered

  4. Trump administration overhauls key protection for endangered species

  5. New wild cat species discovered - with only one known living member

Sources

The original report was published by BBC Science. WorldPing does not claim that reporting — this page summarises and contextualises it.

Read the full report at BBC Science

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Brief by WorldPing · Original reporting by Phys.org