Bassaricyon
Bassaricyon is a genus of nocturnal, tree-dwelling procyonids native to Central and South America. Its species are commonly called olingos.
Procyonidae: Procyonidae is a family of small to medium-sized mammals that includes raccoons, coatis, kinkajous, and olingos. Bassaricyon belongs to this family of mostly American mammals.
Olinguito: The olinguito is a small, reddish procyonid in the genus Bassaricyon, native to the northern Andes. It is the smallest recognized species in the genus and lives in montane forests.
Prehensile tail: A prehensile tail is a tail adapted to grasp or support an animal while climbing. Olingos use their long tails for balance as they travel through trees.
John Edward Gray: John Edward Gray was a British zoologist who worked at the British Museum and described many animal taxa. Gray established the genus Bassaricyon in the nineteenth century.
Tropical rainforest: A tropical rainforest is a warm, humid forest with high rainfall and diverse plant and animal life. Many Bassaricyon species depend on tropical forest habitats.
Carnivora: Carnivora is the mammalian order that includes cats, dogs, bears, seals, and their relatives. Procyonidae, the family containing Bassaricyon, is part of this order.
Western lowland olingo: The western lowland olingo is a species of Bassaricyon found in western Amazonia and nearby regions. It represents the genus’s lowland Amazonian species.
Nocturnality: Nocturnality is a pattern of being active mainly at night. Olingos’ night activity affects when they forage and encounter other animals.
Olinguito discovery: The olinguito discovery was the 2013 recognition of a living mammal species previously misidentified in museum collections and field records. It brought a previously overlooked Bassaricyon species to scientific attention.
Cloud forest: A cloud forest is a mountain forest frequently covered by low clouds or mist. The olinguito depends on Andean cloud forests at high elevations.