New Brazilian Wildcat Species Discovered

Scientists originally believed that tigrinas in Brazil, spotted wildcats that look like leopards, were one species broken into four sub-populations between two groups: the northern tigrina and the southern tigrina.

On November 27, researchers revealed in Current Biology that during a study of three wild feline species — the tigrina, pampas cat and Geoffrey’s cat — molecular testing showed that tigrinas populating northeastern Brazil are distinctly different from tigrinas in southern Brazil, and that neither species has ever interbred. The tests also showed that northeastern tigrinas are related to and interbreed with the pampas cat; whereas, southern tigrinas only interact with Geoffroy’s cats.

Eduardo Eizirik of Brazil’s Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul and his colleagues who released the study for the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul believe additional study is necessary. Eizerik emphasized that all of these wildcat species are under threat of extinction and that study of their “genetics, ecology, and evolution” can help scientists with conservation efforts.

“So much is still unknown about the natural world, even in groups that are supposed to be well-characterized, such as cats,” said Eizirik.

“In fact, there are many basic aspects that we still don’t know about wild cats, from their precise geographic distribution and their diets.”
The team also also suggested a new nomenclature: Leopardus tigrinus for the northeastern tigrinas and Leopardus guttulus for the southern tigrinas, with southern tigrinas recognized as a new species.

On The Web:
New Brazilian Wild Cat Species Revealed by Genetic Testing
http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/5113/20131127/new-brazilian-wild-cat-species-revealed-genetic-testing.htm
Cryptic New Species of Wild Cat Identified in Brazil
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131127122411.htm