Although the mammals are well studied in comparison to other animal groups, new species are still being discovered. This list includes extant mammal species discovered, formally named, or brought to public light in 2000 or later. Notable subspecies are also included, as are mammals rediscovered after being declared, or seriously suspected to be, extinct.
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Newly discovered fossils are not included.
At least five new species of marsupials have been discovered since 2000:
In 2001, genetic evidence emerged that the African elephant (Loxodonta africana), once thought to be a single species, was in fact two, as the smaller African forest elephant was in fact a distinct species (Loxodonta cyclotis). L. africana is now commonly referred to as the African bush elephant.[1] Strictly speaking, this is not a newly discovered species, but simply an alternative taxonomic treatment, as cyclotis was already recognized, but only as a subspecies.
36 primate species were described in the 2000s including the golden palace monkey or Madidi titi, named by auction.
At least 30 new bat species have been described since 2000. The new species were found in Africa, Latin America, Asia, Oceania, and Europe.
Several new subspecies of previously known species were described. Additionally, an alternative taxonomic treatment of the clouded leopard was proposed, in which the taxon diardi, previously considered a subspecies of Neofelis nebulosa, was proposed a separate species, the Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi). In 2013, the olinguito, living in the Andean cloud forest, was determined to be a distinct species. It had previously been categorized as a small olingo.