A new species of monkey with distinctive orange lips and a deep roaring call has been identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The monkey, known as Colobus congoensis or Likweli, has a glossy black coat, long fur, a sweeping tail, and striking orange-cream facial markings.

Discovery and Characteristics

Researchers from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and the City University of New York Graduate Center made the discovery. They found that the species has distinctive cranial, dental, and skeletal characteristics that separate it from every other known African colobus monkey. It is also smaller than related Colobus monkeys, weighing around 15 pounds.

The process of describing the new species began in 2008, when an unusual monkey was photographed by researchers working in east-central DRC. Over the next decade, they made 114 sightings from 2018-2022. In addition to its anatomy and field observations, researchers also had to study the monkey’s genetics and use local ecological knowledge to prove that this was a species that had never been described before.

Conservation Concerns

However, there are some conservation concerns for Likweli, given the fact that the sightings were made across a range of around 1,700 square kilometers. The researchers propose that Colobus congoensis be classified as Endangered because of its restricted range, habitat loss, and hunting pressure. Most of its known habitat lies within Lomami National Park, making protection of the region critical for the species’ survival.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.