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. 2024 Jan 29;14(1):2395.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-52379-8.

Ecological modeling, biogeography, and phenotypic analyses setting the tiger cats' hyperdimensional niches reveal a new species

Tadeu G de Oliveira  1   2   3   4 , Lester A Fox-Rosales  5   6 , José D Ramírez-Fernández  5   7 , Juan C Cepeda-Duque  5 , Rebecca Zug  8 , Catalina Sanchez-Lalinde  5   9 , Marcelo J R Oliveira  10   11 , Paulo H D Marinho  5   12 , Alejandra Bonilla-Sánchez  5   13 , Mara C Marques  5   14 , Katia Cassaro  15 , Ricardo Moreno  16 , Damián Rumiz  17 , Felipe B Peters  18   5   19 , Josué Ortega  16   20 , Gitana Cavalcanti  21 , Michael S Mooring  22   23 , Steven R Blankenship  22 , Esteban Brenes-Mora  24 , Douglas Dias  5   10   25 , Fábio D Mazim  18   5   26 , Eduardo Eizirik  18   13 , Jaime L Diehl  5 , Rosane V Marques  5 , Ana Carolina C Ribeiro  27 , Reginaldo A Cruz  28 , Emanuelle Pasa  28 , Lyse P C Meira  5   29 , Alex Pereira  5   29 , Guilherme B Ferreira  11 , Fernando F de Pinho  11 , Liana M M Sena  10 , Vinícius R de Morais  5 , Micheli Ribeiro Luiz  5   30 , Vitor E C Moura  5   31 , Marina O Favarini  18   5   19 , Karla P G Leal  32 , Paulo G C Wagner  33 , Maurício C Dos Santos  5 , James Sanderson  24   34 , Elienê P Araújo  35 , Flávio H G Rodrigues  36
Affiliations

Ecological modeling, biogeography, and phenotypic analyses setting the tiger cats' hyperdimensional niches reveal a new species

Tadeu G de Oliveira et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Recently, the tiger-cat species complex was split into Leopardus tigrinus and Leopardus guttulus, along with other proposed schemes. We performed a detailed analysis integrating ecological modeling, biogeography, and phenotype of the four originally recognized subspecies-tigrinus, oncilla, pardinoides, guttulus-and presented a new multidimensional niche depiction of the species. Species distribution models used > 1400 records from museums and photographs, all checked for species accuracy. Morphological data were obtained from institutional/personal archives. Spotting patterns were established by integrating museum and photographic/camera-trap records. Principal component analysis showed three clearly distinct groups, with the Central American specimens (oncilla) clustering entirely within those of the Andes, namely the pardinoides group of the cloud forests of the southern Central-American and Andean mountain chains (clouded tiger-cat); the tigrinus group of the savannas of the Guiana Shield and central/northeastern Brazil (savanna tiger-cat); and the guttulus group in the lowland forests of the Atlantic Forest domain (Atlantic Forest tiger-cat). This scheme is supported by recent genetic analyses. All species displayed different spotting patterns, with some significant differences in body measurements/proportions. The new distribution presented alarming reductions from the historic range of - 50.4% to - 68.2%. This multidimensional approach revealed a new species of the elusive and threatened tiger-cat complex.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Principal component analysis (PCA) of the tiger cat species complex reveals three groupings, setting the species apart, with the oncilla completely within pardinoides, the pardinoides group (clouded tiger-cat), the tigrinus group (savanna tiger-cat), and the guttulus group (Atlantic Forest tiger-cat).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Principal component analysis of savanna tiger-cats from the Guiana Shield, with those of eastern Amazonia and the northern savannas, and with clouded tiger-cats (L. pardinoides). PCA clearly shows convergence between the two groups of L. tigrinus, and not with those of L. pardinoides; such a scheme would invalidate L. emiliae as a species in as far as ecological niche dimensions are concerned.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Historic and current distribution of the tiger-cat species complex: savanna tiger-cat (Leopardus tigrinus), Atlantic Forest tiger-cat (Leopardus guttulus), and the new species, the clouded tiger-cat (Leopardus pardinoides). Figure made on QGIS v. 3.28.12 LTR (www.qgis.org).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Current and historic range of the clouded tiger-cat (Leopardus pardionides) in Central America (a), the northern Andes (b), and the southern Andes (c). Figure made on QGIS v. 3.28.12 LTR (www.qgis.org).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Current and historic range of the savanna tiger-cat (Leopardus tigrinus) in northern/northeastern/central Brazil (a) and the Guiana Shield (b). Figure made on QGIS v. 3.28.12 LTR (www.qgis.org).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Current and historic range of the Atlantic Forest tiger-cat (Leopardus guttulus) in the northern (a) and southern (b) part of its range. Figure made on QGIS v. 3.28.12 LTR (www.qgis.org).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Multidimensional niche parameters showing the variables with higher impact that shape the hyperdimensional niche of the tiger-cats. Photographs: (a) authors, (b) Weslley Alves, (c) authors.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Classic examples of the tiger cat species complex: (a) the savanna tiger-cat (Leopardus tigrinus); (b) the new species, the clouded tiger-cat (Leopardus pardinoides); and (c) the Atlantic Forest tiger-cat (Leopardus guttulus). Drawings by Ricardo Ribeiro; photographs: (a) authors, (b) Johannes Pfleiderer, (c) authors.
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