First new cat species discovered in over 100 years

And for all you cat lovers out here, good news.

Scientists have identified a new living cat species, a first in more than a century.

Interestingly, the Tilcayo cat has been living in a wildlife sanctuary in Bolivia

for many years, after being taken in by a local family.

The feline is smaller than an average house cat, has a light brown coat

and is patterned with dark, leopardlike spots.

After much analysis, it is found the cat belongs to a previously

unrecognised species whose lineage split from its relatives about

1.4 million years ago.

The last feline species formally identified was the Uruguayan

pampas cat in 1923.

Evolutionary biologist Jonas Lescroart said, "What makes the news exciting, I think, is that even in groups like cats that

are assumed to be well-known, apparently there's still cryptic (hidden) diversity."

"So that's amazing because that speaks just to the incredible natural biodiversity

that exists and that is still waiting to be discovered and we should make haste

in doing these kinds of discoveries because at the same time all of this

biodiversity is under pressure and it's disappearing as we speak."