New monkey species with orange lips discovered in Congo after 18 years

After nearly two decades of searching, scientists have officially described a new species of monkey in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Named Colobus congoensis and known locally as likweli, the primate is distinguished by its black coat, orange lips, and a mask-like face with gray cheeks and dark eye patches. It is only the fifth new monkey species identified in Africa in the past 75 years Source: CNN.

The discovery journey

The first evidence came in 2008 with a blurry photo of an unknown monkey in the Lomami National Park. A clearer sighting in 2018 prompted a dedicated research effort between 2018 and 2022, yielding 114 detections. "Only after ten years of exploring the Lomami forest did we get enough clear observations and convincing photos to claim there was another new monkey," said co-author Terese Hart Source: euronewses. The researchers interviewed residents of 52 villages, but only eight recognized the animal, highlighting its elusiveness Source: infobae.

Unique traits and evolutionary history

The likweli weighs about 6.8 kilograms and has a distinctive roar that resembles a frog croak. Genetic analysis revealed that its closest relative is Colobus satanas, found over 1,200 kilometers away, with which it diverged between 3.4 and 5.7 million years ago Source: clarin. "We were very, very surprised at how deep the divergence is," said Kate Detwiler, the study's lead author Source: infobae.

Conservation concerns

The monkey's known range is limited to about 1,700 square kilometers of closed-canopy forest between the Lomami and Lilo rivers. With only 114 sightings over four years, researchers recommend classifying it as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. "Its range is so small that any human intervention can have devastating consequences," warned John Hart of the Lukuru Wildlife Research Foundation Source: infobae. The discovery underscores the biodiversity of the Lomami region, which also yielded a new monkey species, the lesula, in 2012 Source: elmundoes.