Phylogenomics and museomics reveal five distinct species of tiger cats in South America.

Genomic analyses reveal five distinct tiger cat species in South America, including a newly described species and subspecies, clarifying their taxonomy and evolution.

• Why it matters: Understanding the evolutionary relationships and taxonomy of these elusive cats is crucial for effective conservation efforts and addressing their threatened status.
• What they did: Researchers analyzed complete genomes from 38 individuals, including museum specimens, to identify species boundaries and resolve phylogenetic relationships within the Leopardus tigrinus complex.
• The result: The study identified four previously unrecognized taxa, including a novel species L. tilcayo and a subspecies L. tigrinus antisuyo, providing a foundation for conservation planning and further evolutionary research.