The Olinguito

Yesterday the Smithsonian Institution announced the discovery of the Olinguito (Bassaricyon neblina), the first new carnivorous mammal species discovered in the American continents in 35 years. It took a decade of research by zoologist Kristofer Helgen to establish that "Ollie" was a separate species. It's the smallest member of the racoon family, nocturnal, tree dwelling and eating mostly fruit and insects. Field trips found that it is alive and well and living in the cloud forests of the northern Andes in Ecuador and Colombia, at high elevations (CLICK).