News in Brief Animals

New carnivore species found

Tiny olingo species dubbed 'olinguito'

MEAT EATER  The olinguito, shown here, is the first newly discovered carnivore in the Western Hemisphere in 35 years.

Mark Gurney

By Jessica Shugart

- More than 2 years ago

Shrouded in the mist of an Andean cloud forest, the first newly discovered carnivore in the Western Hemisphere in 35 years rarely leaves its treetop home.

Smithsonian researchers stumbled upon Bassaricyon neblina, also known as the “olinguito,” while riffling through museum specimens and old field notes in search of information about other members of the Bassaricyon genus—commonly known as olingos.