Twenty-first Century Mammals
Science and the work of scientists continues in the world of zoology as well as in the more materialistic sciences and new species are being discovered all the time, most of these are small invertebrates, however new vertebrates are being discovered as well. Fish amphibians, reptiles, birds and even mammals new to science are being added to the worlds knowledge base each year. Already nearly 100 (97) new species of mammals have been named in the 21st century.
But how are they discovered? In this modern world new species are still actually discovered, animals that have not been seen before are found, photographed and recorded, see the Arunachal macaque, or the or the Lemur-like vivverid found on Borneo a couple of years ago. However most of the species listed as new to science are animals we already new about but which we had classified as one species and have now reclassified as another.
Reclassification is often the result of a combination of morphological studies backed up by DNA research, but may result from solely from DNA studies. When only part of an exisiting species is reclassified a new species is created. This is the case with the Borneo Clouded Leopard, the Snubfin Dolphin and Mirza zaza the new giant mouse lemur found in 2005. Finally it is worth realising that the date of the first sighting of an new animal, and the date on which it is actually given a new name, the date on which it enters the record books, can be quite different. For instance the 3 Mouse Lemurs listed under 2006 were actually discovered in 2003, but the scientific paper describing and naming them was not published until 2006.
Below is a list of new mammal species, the 21st century mammals as I have called them. I have searched out all that I can, however it is likely I have missed some, so if you know of an ommission please contact me using the email address below. Some of the species listed have not been given official Common Names, so I have made up names for them, where i have done this I have put a ? after the name.
2007:-
Neofelis ??????????? Borneo Clouded Leopard from Borneo and Sumatra BBC
Isothrix barbarabrownae Chunky Squirrel Rat ? from Peru LiveScience, Google
2006:-
Cebus queirozi Blond Capuchin from Brazil Google
Microcebus bongolavensis Bongola Mouse Lemur ? from Madagascar Google
Microcebus danfossi Danfoss’s Mouse Lemur from Madagascar Google
Microcebus lokobensis Lokoben Mouse Lemur ? from Madagascar Google
Microcebus jollyae Jolly’s Mouse Lemur from Madagascar Google
Microcebus simmonsi Simmon’s Mouse Lemur from Madagascar Google
Microcebus mittermeieri Mittermeier’s Mouse Lemur from Madagascar Google
Philander mondolfii Mondolfi Opossum from South America J. Mammalogy, Google
Philander deltae Delta Opussum from Venezuela J. Mammalogy, Google
Sylvilagus varynaensis Venezuelan Lowland Rabbit from Venezuela Google
Mus cypriacus The Cypriot mouse from Cyprus, Europe BBC, Google
Scotophilus marovaza Marovaza House Bat from Madagascar Google
Hipposideros khaokhouayensis Phou Khao Khouay Leaf-nosed Bat from Laos Google
Hipposideros khasiana Khasian Leaf-nosed Bat from India Google
Apomys camiguinensis Camiguin Forest Mouse ? from the Philippines Google
2005:-
Rungwecebus kipunji Kipunji a monkey from Tanzania BBC, Google
Callicebus aureipalatii GoldenPalace.com Monkey from Bolivia Google
Moschiola kathygre an as yet un-named Chevrotain (a type of deer) from Sri Lanka Google
Avahi cleesei Bemaraha Woolly Lemur from Madagascar Google
Lepilemur mitsinjonensis Mitsinjo Sportive Lemur from Madagascar Google
Lepilemur seali Seal’s Sportive Lemur from Madagascar Google
Microcebus lehilahytsara Goodman’s Mouse Lemur from Madagascar BBC, Google
Mirza zaza Northern Giant Mouse Lemur from Madagascar BBC, Google
Orcaella heinsohni Snubfin Dolphin from Australia BBC,Google
Murina harrisoni Harrison’s Murine Bat from Cambodia Google
Myotis dieteri Kock’s Mouse-eared Bat from Subsaharan Africa Google
Pteralopex flannery Greater monkey-faced bat from the Solomon Islands Google
Akodon philipmyersi Philip Myer’s Grass Mouse from Argentina Google
Laonastes aenigmamus Loation Rock Rat from Laos Nat. Geographic, Google
2004:-
Macaca munzala Arunachal Macaque, a monkey from India BBC, Google
Microperoryctes aplini Arfak Pygmy Bandicoot from New Guinea J.Zool., Google
Unknown Giant Forest Peccary from Brazil Answers, Google
Pipistrellus hanaki Hanaki’s Dwarf Bat from Lybia Google
Kerivoula kachinensis Kachin Woolly Bat from Myanmar Google
Chaerephon jobimena Red Free-tailed Bat from Madagascar Google
Epomophorus anselli Ansell’s Epauletted Fruit Bat from Malawi Google
Peromyscus schmidlyi Durango Deer Mouse from Mexico Google
Oryzomys andersoni Anderson’s Rice Rat from Bolivia Google
Reithrodontomys bakeri Guerrero Harvest Mouse from Mexico Google
2003:-
Balaenoptera omurai Omura’s Baleen Whale BBC, Google
Hipposideros scutinares Shield-nosed Bat from Laos and Vietnam Google
Rousettus linduensis Linduan Rousette from Indonesia Google
Rhagomys longilingua Peruvian Arboreal Mouse from Peru Google
2002:-
Mesoplodon perrini Perrin’s Beaked Whale from the Pacific Ocean Answers, Google
Cryptonanus ignitus Red-bellied Gracile Opossum from Argentina Google
Trichosurus cunninghami Mountain Brush-tailed Possum a confusing case because when the species was split one half took the new scientific name but kept the old common name while the old Mountain Brush-tailed Possum kept the old Common Scientific name but took a new Common Name and became the Short-eared Possum Google
Callicebus bernhardi Prince Bernhard’s Titi a monkey from Brazil BBC, Google
Callicebus stephennashi Stephen Nash’s Titi a monkey from Brazil BBC, Google
Nesolagus timminsi Annamite Striped Rabbit from Vietnam Google
Nyctophilus nebulosus New Caledonian Long-eared Bat from New Caledonia
Rhinolophus ziama Ziama Horseshoe Bat ? from Guinea Google
Rhinolophus sakejiensis Sakeji Horseshoe Bat from Zambia Google
Plecotus alpinus Alpine Long-eared Bat from Europe Google
Plecotus sardus Sardinian Long-eared Bat from Sardinia, Europe Google
Pteralopex taki New Georgian Monkey-faced Bat from New Georgia, Solomon and Vangunu islands Google
Micronycteris matses Matses Big-eared Bat from Peru Google
Carollia sowelli Sowell’s Short-tailed Bat from Central America Google
Bullimus gamay Camiguin Bullimus ? from the Pilippines Google
2001:-
Loxodonta cyclotis African Forest Elephant from Africa BBC, Google
Avahi unicolor Sambirano Woolly Lemur from Madagascar Google
Cheirogaleus adipicaudatus Southern Fat-tailed Dwarf Lemur from Madagascar Google
Cheirogaleus crossleyi Furry-eared Dwarf Lemur Lemur from Madagascar Google
Cheirogaleus minusculus Lesser Iron-gray Dwarffrom Madagascar Google
Cheirogaleus ravus Greater Iron-gray Dwarf Lemur from Madagascar Google
Cheirogaleus sibreei Sibree’s Dwarf Lemur from Madagascar Google
Camelus bactrianus Bactrian Camel (wildform) BBC, Google
Bradypus pygmaeus Pygmy Three-toed Sloth from Isla Escuda de Veraguas (an Island near Panama) Google
Trinomys mirapitanga Mirapitanga Spiny Rat from Brazil Google
Glauconycteris curryae Curry’s Butterfly Batfrom central Africa Google
Nyctimene (Paranyctimene) tenax Nijhoff’s Tube-nosed Bat from Papua and Indonesia Google
Saccopteryx antioquensis Antioquian Sac-winged Bat from Colombia Google
Carollia colombiana Colombian Short-tailed Bat from Colombia Google
Myotis alcathoe Alcathoe Myotis from Europe Google
Myotis annamiticus Annami Myotis from Vietnam Google
2000:-
Eubalaena japonica Pacific Northern Right Whale from the Pacific Ocean Google
Callithrix manicorensis, Manicore Marmoset from Brazil BBC, Google
Callithrix acariensis, Acari Marmoset from Brazil BBC, Google
Microcebus berthae Berthe’s Mouse Lemur from Madagascar BBC, Google
Microcebus sambiranensis Sambirano Mouse Lemur from Madagascar BBC, Google
Microcebus tavaratra Northern Rufous Mouse Lemur from Madagascar BBC, Google
Ochotona nigritia PianMa Black Pika from China PDF Paper, Google
Rhinolophus maendeleo Maendeleo Horsehoe Bat from Tanzania Google
Sturnira mistratensis Mistratoan Yellow-shouldered Bat from Colombia Google
Plecotus balensis Bale Long-eared Bat from Ethiopia Google
Rhipidomys gardneri Gardner’s Climbing Mouse from South America Google
Neacomys minutus Jurua Bristly Mouse from Brazil Google
Neacomys musseri Manu Bristly Mouse from Brazil Google
Mus fragilicauda Fragile-tailed Mouse ? from Thailand Google
Lophuromys angolensis Angolan Brush-furred Mouse from Angola Google
Mesomys occultus Furtive Spiny Tree Rat from Brazil Google
Ctenomys paraguayensis Paraguayan Tuco Tuco from Paraguay Google
Brucepattersonius guarani Guaranß Brucie from Brazil Google
Brucepattersonius misionensis Misiones Brucie from Brazil Google
Brucepattersonius paradisus Arroyo of Paradise Brucie from Brazil Google
Pipanacoctomys aureus Viscacha Rat from Argentina Google
Salinoctomys loschalchalerosorum Los Chalchaleros Viscacha Rat from Argentina Google