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The first new cat species discovered in 100 years

379 points · 148 comments · ohjeez

autoexec · 1789671867 · focus · HN ↗
It's Leopardus tilcayo aka 'tilcayo tiger cat' and it's very cute. Wikipedia doesn't have a page dedicated to it yet.
Bonus pics: <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SEI_312819149.jpg" rel="nofollow">https://www.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SEI_...
<a href="https://media.zenfs.com/en/live_science_953/73a4cafd69e9e86312a459e0206a1469.png" rel="nofollow">https://media.zenfs.com/en/live_science_953/73a4cafd69e9e863...
<a href="https://media.zenfs.com/en/live_science_953/1fea354ba7a8db696e3bc8750e32dca0.jpg" rel="nofollow">https://media.zenfs.com/en/live_science_953/1fea354ba7a8db69...
<a href="https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/get/maximage/20260917_1789662761-615.jpeg?1789662761" rel="nofollow">https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/get/maximage/20260917_17896627...
1. cromka · 1789689002 · focus · HN ↗
  Looks like a house cat, I am betting it's a matter of months before someone starts selling the crossbreds, like they do with Bengal.
  Also, they're only 3-4 lbs!
  1. BeetleB · 1789762068 · focus · HN ↗
    Let's see if it (or crossbreeds) can be tamed.
    This particular one was actually being kept in a house because someone confused it for a "pretty housecat". After a while, the owner realized it didn't want to be tamed and contacted someone for help.
    Also, it's the only known one in existence. Hard to start a breeding program unless they find more.
    shevy-java · 1789764178 · focus · HN ↗
    I mean, taming animals is trivial. Look at the lion whisperer. People before that thought that lions are always wild.
    Some animals are just harder to tame and remain ferocious more than others. But behaviour of animals is adaptable and most animals learn.
    WalterBright · 1789775815 · focus · HN ↗
    A tamed lion ripped the face off of Melanie Griffith.
    quickthrowman · 1789782629 · focus · HN ↗
    I still need to watch that movie, I feel obligated to see it after so many people suffered so many injuries while filming it.
    <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roar_(film)#Injuries_and_set_damages" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roar_(film)#Injuries_and_set_d...
    olvy0 · 1789806354 · focus · HN ↗
    And you'd think Tippi Hedren would have learned not to go around wild, untamed animals after what her character wrnt through in The Birds!
    WalterBright · 1789847702 · focus · HN ↗
    I missed that connection!

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