Earlier I wrote a blog about new species of lemurs being discovered in Madagascar. Now, the World Wildlife Federation has taken two pictures of what may be a new mammal in Mentarang National Park in Kalimantan, Indonesia. The pictures were taken using a "camera trap" in the fall of 2005, and since scientists have not been able to identify what the animal is, it is possible that it is a previously undiscovered mammal.

New Mammal?: Photo courtsey of World Wildlife Fund via U.S. Newswire.

The animal is about the size of a cat with dark red fur and a long bushy tail. Looking at the pictures it reminds me of a lemur, but since lemurs are only found in Madagascar, it can't be. Some scientists think that it may be a viverrid, which is the family name given to the group of animals that includes the mongoose and civets.

The WWF will set live traps in the area to try to capture one of the creatures to be able to study and properly describe the animal.

A New Mammal?: Photo courtsey of World Wildlife Fund via U.S. Newswire.

Time is tight to do so, as the area where the animal was photographed is a rainforest that is currently being considered as the site for the world's largest oil plantation. If the plantation were built it would clear an area of rainforest larger than the state of Connecticut, significantly impacting the habitat of this animal, whatever it may be.