New monkey species with orange lips discovered after years of searching

Discovery of a New Monkey Species in the Congo Basin

A monkey with striking pinkish-orange lips and a black face has been confirmed as a new species to science, according to an international team of researchers. The primate was spotted hidden in the high tree canopy of dense tropical forests in Lomami National Park, in the east-central Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The discovery was published in the journal PLOS One, as reported by ABC Australia and the BBC.

The monkey, scientifically named Colobus congoensis, is only the fifth new species of African monkey to be discovered in the past 75 years, according to ABC Australia. It belongs to the colobus group and most closely resembles the black colobus (Colobus satanas) found in west-central Africa and Equatorial Guinea's Bioko Island, as noted by ABC Australia. Genetic, anatomical, and acoustic analyses suggest the new species diverged from its closest known relative around 4 to 5 million years ago.

The monkey has a distinctive appearance, described by ABC Australia as bearing a mask-like look with an orange-cream patch surrounding the mouth. The Jerusalem Post added that it has a silky black coat and orange-cream skin around its mouth, and it is smaller than other colobus monkeys, with a 'quiet and watchful nature.'

A Decade-Long Search

The path to confirming the new species was long and indirect. According to ABC Australia, the discovery began with a blurry photo taken in 2008 by researchers from the Lukuru Wildlife Research Foundation while exploring the forests of the Lomami National Park region. While the photo was partially obscured, the field team strongly suspected they had seen an unknown monkey species.

However, it was not until a field researcher photographed the monkey again in November 2018 that the scientific process accelerated, as ABC News reported. The monkey was then documented seven more times in different locations in the region. Between 2018 and 2022, researchers recorded 114 field observations of the monkeys, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Junior Amboko, a PhD student at Florida Atlantic University and co-corresponding author of the findings, played a leading role in the search, which involved audio recordings, photography, and detailed genetic studies, as reported by BBC News. He told BBC that the monkeys were "kind of shy" and tended to hide in high trees. "As part of our search, we interviewed people in 52 villages close to where the animals live. And only people in eight villages [had ever seen] them," he recalled.

The research team, which included scientists from the DRC, the US, and Germany, gave the animal the name Colobus congoensis—a name chosen by Junior Amboko to recognize "the Congo Basin's remarkable natural heritage" and, as he said, "marking the first primate named after the Democratic Republic of Congo itself, underscoring both its global importance and local pride," according to the Jerusalem Post.

The local people of the Balanga ethnic group knew of the monkey and referred to it by the name "Likweli," as ABC and BBC reported. In another local dialect, it was called "branch shaker," according to the Jerusalem Post.

Key Claims

The new monkey species, Colobus congoensis, is confirmed to live in Lomami National Park in the DRC.

The monkey has pinkish-orange lips and a black face, as noted by multiple sources.

Conservationists first spotted the animal in 2008 but it was not confirmed as a new species until a study published in July in PLOS ONE.

The monkey is only the fifth new African monkey species to be discovered in the past 75 years.

The species has a distinctive "roaring" call, according to BBC News.

It is hunted for meat and faces conservation concerns due to habitat loss.

The monkey's name Colobus congoensis honors the Congo Basin.

Conservation Concerns

The new species faces conservation concerns. ABC News and BBC News reported that the monkey is hunted for meat and is threatened by habitat loss. The monkey's quiet, secretive nature and habit of hiding high in the tree canopy make it particularly vulnerable, as researchers have noted.

Dr. Karen Laurenson, Africa director at the Frankfurt Zoological Society, described the discovery as "amazing" and stated that it shows there is still "a lot out there in the natural world that needs to be explored," as quoted by BBC.

Insights into Primate Evolution

The discovery provides new insights into African primate evolution, as noted by the Jerusalem Post. The genetic divergence from its closest relative millions of years ago adds to understanding the evolutionary history of colobus monkeys.

Researchers, including those from Florida Atlantic University and Yale, played a key role in the identification, as stated in the Jerusalem Post. The paper, published July 15 in the journal PLOS ONE, confirmed that the monkey is distinct from other known species.

While the monkey has been seen before by local people and conservationists, the scientific confirmation makes it a significant discovery. The research team, comprising scientists from the DRC, the US, and Germany, plans further studies, though the details are not in the provided material.

Perspectives

Researchers: The research team, led by Junior Amboko and others, expressed excitement and personal pride in the discovery. As reported, Amboko said it was an "amazing feeling" to look into the face of an animal that so few people knew existed. He and his colleagues emphasized the importance of the discovery for the Congo Basin's biodiversity.

Frankfurt Zoological Society: Dr. Karen Laurenson, Africa director at the Society, commented on the discovery, calling it "amazing" and highlighting the broader significance for natural world exploration.

(Note: The section was included because the provided material includes commentary from named individuals—Junior Amboko, Dr. Karen Laurenson, and other scientists—who represent the research team and conservation organizations.)