July 19, 2024, 2:58 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Many wild small cat species roam the rainforests of South America, each of them more remarkable than the next. A new species has now been identified. But this research success probably isn’t such a good thing for these animals.
There are few areas of the world where there is as much biodiversity as is found in the South American forests. New species are still being described there all the time, such as the recently discovered anaconda or an isolated three-fingered sloth with a coconut head. Now researchers have also made new classifications for South American wild cats and found a new species. However, this does not bode well for the recently discovered small cat species from the rainforest.
Small cat species inhabiting the rainforest is yet to be well researched
The tiger cat family, which has the scientific name Leopardus, was already confusing enough before the discovery of the new species. This is because they are not related to tigers or leopards. To add to the confusion, these animals are often called ocelots or pardelids. They are indeed related to both, but form their own taxonomic group. For this reason, they are sometimes referred to as oncillas or tigrillos.
A research team led by Tadeu de Oliveira from the State University of Maranhão in São Luís, Brazil, has taken a closer look at the tiger cats. The small wild cats are not only well hidden, they are also shy. This is why they were long thought to be just one species. They are usually no bigger than a domestic cat (46 to 54 centimeters/ 18 to 21 inches). They also weigh just over three kilograms (ca. 6.6 pounds). Their spotted and striped pattern camouflages them perfectly in rainforests, cloud forests, and herbaceous grasslands.
In 2013, it was discovered that there is a northern and a southern tiger cat. The latter is also known as the Brazilian tiger cat. Previously, it had long been assumed that there was a single species with a huge range extending from Costa Rica across the Andes to the Brazilian Atlantic coast.1
Three species have to share a dwindling space
The discovery of another small cat species with round ears and an inquisitive gaze sounds like good news at first. However, there is some bitter truth to it. The new study has now made it clear that the group is divided into not just two, but three different species. The two species already described have now been joined by the Andean ocelot cat or the north-western tiger cat. It was recognized as an independent species at the beginning of 2024.2
In species research, there is a principle: you can only protect what you know. This is not the case with the tiger cat, whose feeding habits we don’t even know. In addition, de Oliveira’s research group has also discovered that the animals’ habitats are much smaller than previously assumed.
The newly described Andean ocelot cat is found at altitudes of 1,500 meters (ca. 1,640 yards) in cloud forests up to 3,000 meters (ca. 3,281 yards) in subtropical to temperate climates. It lives mainly in the west of the South American continent, in the Andes and neighboring areas. Its distribution area therefore only extends to a narrow population strip within the mountains.
The northern tiger cat, on the other hand, is found in Guyana and the Brazilian rainforest. The southern tiger cat has adapted not only to life in wetlands, but also in savannas. However, the researchers have not only been able to prove that the small cat species populations are isolated, they also no longer live only in the rainforest. Their historical and current distribution has also been analyzed, sending clear warning signs for the conservation of all three species.
Ocelot, Manul, Kodkod, … Hardly anyone knows these 16 wild cats
Up to 33 feet long These are the 6 biggest snakes in the world
Invasive species Why Pablo Escobar is responsible for the existence of hippos in Colombia
“The red light is on”
The detailed investigation by the scientists, who also created the “Tiger Cats Conservation Initiative”, has revealed a sad state of affairs. “Very worrying territorial declines were found for all tiger cats, ranging from a decrease of 50.4 to 68.2 percent,” the researchers themselves assess their findings in their paper.
They go on to say that there is an immediate need for action. De Oliveira and colleagues would like to see an improvement and strengthening of environmental policy. As well as a re-evaluation of the Red List for all three species and conservation measures, from local projects to national institutions and authorities.
The researchers conclude their study with the words “The red light is on”, referring to species conservation. This is because smaller, isolated populations of species make it more difficult to effectively protect them from extinction. Especially when so little is known about the animals, such as the tiger cats living in hiding.