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

Genomic analysis reveals five distinct tiger cat species in South America, including a newly described species and subspecies, clarifying their evolutionary relationships.

• Why it matters: Understanding the taxonomy and evolutionary history of tiger cats is crucial for effective conservation, especially as these felids are threatened and previously poorly understood.
• What they did: Researchers sequenced 38 genomes, including museum specimens, and identified five separate species within the Leopardus tigrinus complex, employing phylogenomic methods.
• The result: This work enables accurate conservation assessments, provides a clearer evolutionary framework, and introduces new taxonomic units, supporting targeted efforts to protect these elusive wild cats.