The Smithsonian has just released the news that a new species of mammal has been discovered in the Andes. The Olinguito is a member of the raccoon family (Procyonidae) and it is distinct from olingos. This cutie creature has been aptly described as a cross between a house cat and a teddy bear in appearance. Like a lot of incredibly cool animals, these guys hang out in the cloud forests.
If you would like to learn more about this (and you should because this is the first new mammal from the Western Hemisphere in a loooong time) read more here.
Also check out the Zookeys paper of the formal description here. This paper is really beautiful and well worth the read.
“Meet the…” is a collaboration between The Finch & Pea and Nature Afield to bring Nature’s amazing creatures into your home.
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