Sometimes a brand new species of mammal is hiding right under our noses! Meet the olinguito, a raccoon-like mammal from South America. Part of a larger playlist on mammals, an interesting video discusses how a researcher from The Smithsonian Institute discovered olinguitos tucked away in museum drawers across the country. Topics include why museums collect multiple specimens, how the olinguito was singled out, and olinguito populations in the wild.

Concepts

mammals, animal species, south america, carnivores, animal attributes, animal anatomy, animal classification

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Use the video to illustrate differences between species of mammals
• Show the class the olinguito in action with a video from an expedition to Ecuador

Classroom Considerations

• Explain that museums preserve and keep animal specimens for study if pupils are not familiar with this practice
  

• This video is hosted on YouTube

Pros

• Explains the process of discovering the new species very well
• Displayed specimens allow viewers to compare the olinguito to the previously known olingo and make their own observations
  

Cons

• None

Common Core

SL.6.2 SL.7.2 SL.9-10.2