Smithsonian scientists today announced the discovery of the world's newest mammal — the olinguito, a raccoon-like creature living in the "cloud forests" of Ecuador and Colombia. Following are several images of this latest addition to the animal kingdom.
Kristofer Helgen, curator of mammals at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, speaks as he introduces olinguito, a new species of Carnivore he and his team have newly discovered August 15, 2013 at the Smithsonian Castle in Washington, DC. It took Helgen and his team on a journey from museum cabinets in Chicago to cloud forests in South America to discover and confirm the new species of olinguito (Bassaricyon neblina), which has been mistakenly identified for more than 100 years. It's also the first carnivore species to be discovered in the American continents in 35 years. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Kristofer Helgen, curator of mammals at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, speaks as he introduces olinguito, a new species of Carnivore he and his team have newly discovered August 15, 2013 at the Smithsonian Castle in Washington, DC. It took Helgen and his team on a journey from museum cabinets in Chicago to cloud forests in South America to discover and confirm the new species of olinguito (Bassaricyon neblina), which has been mistakenly identified for more than 100 years. It's also the first carnivore species to be discovered in the American continents in 35 years. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
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