An olinguito, or Bassaricyon neblina, looks on from the safety of a tree in South America. The mammal, which some say resembles a raccoon with a teddy bear face, is the first mammal discovery in the Americas in decades.
An olinguito, or Bassaricyon neblina, looks on from the safety of a tree in South America. The mammal, which some say resembles a raccoon with a teddy bear face, is the first mammal discovery in the Americas in decades.
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Nicole Edmison, of the Smithsonian Institution, helped announce the discovery Thursday in Washington, where she displayed a small olinguito skull. The mammal belongs to a grouping of animals that includes dogs, cats and bears.
Nicole Edmison, of the Smithsonian Institution, helped announce the discovery Thursday in Washington, where she displayed a small olinguito skull. The mammal belongs to a grouping of animals that includes dogs, cats and bears.
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The raccoon-sized critter, shown here as stuffed specimens, leaps through the trees of mountainous forests in South America at night, according to a Smithsonian researcher who spent the past decade tracking them.
The raccoon-sized critter, shown here as stuffed specimens, leaps through the trees of mountainous forests in South America at night, according to a Smithsonian researcher who spent the past decade tracking them.
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Ironically, one of the critters hid out for a year at the Smithsonian-run National Zoo in Washington. The olinguito, named Ringerl, was mistaken for a known sister species: the olingo. Ringerl had previously been shipped between zoos to breed with olingos. The olinguito would not.
Ironically, one of the critters hid out for a year at the Smithsonian-run National Zoo in Washington. The olinguito, named Ringerl, was mistaken for a known sister species: the olingo. Ringerl had previously been shipped between zoos to breed with olingos. The olinguito would not.
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‘It turns out she wasn’t fussy,’ says Kristofer Helgen, shown. ‘She wasn’t the right species.’ Mr. Helgen, the Smithsonian’s curator of mammals, first figured olinguitos were different from olingos by looking at pelts and skeletons. He led a team to South America to learn more.
‘It turns out she wasn’t fussy,’ says Kristofer Helgen, shown. ‘She wasn’t the right species.’ Mr. Helgen, the Smithsonian’s curator of mammals, first figured olinguitos were different from olingos by looking at pelts and skeletons. He led a team to South America to learn more.
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Mr. Helgen says olinguitos, shown, are smaller, have shorter tails, a rounder face, tinier ears, and darker, bushier fur. ‘It looks kind of like a fuzzball … kind of like a cross between a teddy bear and a house cat,’ Mr. Helgen says.
Mr. Helgen says olinguitos, shown, are smaller, have shorter tails, a rounder face, tinier ears, and darker, bushier fur. ‘It looks kind of like a fuzzball … kind of like a cross between a teddy bear and a house cat,’ Mr. Helgen says.
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Read the original post: Introducing the Olinguito
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