An elusive primate living in the dense tropical forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo has been officially described as a new species for science, named Colobus congoensis, according to studies published in the journal bbc.com. Known locally as “Likweli”, the animal features sleek black fur, a long curly tail, and a striking orange-cream patch around its mouth and nose. Researchers noted that the primate possesses only four fingers per hand, characteristic of the colobus group.
New Monkey Species Identified in Democratic Republic of Congo
The discovery marks only the fifth new African monkey species identified in the past 75 years, according to fr.news.yahoo.com. The animal’s distinct traits include gray skin on the cheekbones contrasting with black skin around the eyes, a patch of white fur around the anus, and a powerful, distinctive roar.
Decades of Elusive Encounters and Scientific Confirmation
The first trace of the primate emerged in 2008, when researchers working for the Lukuru Wildlife Research Foundation photographed a partially obscured unknown monkey perched high in the forest canopy on the east bank of the Lomami River, within the bbc.com in the center-east of the country. That initial photograph was too blurry to confirm a new species.
A decade later, in November 2018, a patrol team leader captured clear photographs showing the animal’s face, body, and tail. An international research team then conducted detailed genetic, anatomical, and acoustic studies. Junior Amboko, a doctoral student at msn.com, played a leading role in the research alongside scientists from institutions including the Lukuru Wildlife Research Foundation, Yale University, the City University of New York, and the Frankfurt Zoological Society, as reported by lapresse.ca.
Local Knowledge and Ecosystem Role
While the species was new to formal science, certain regional inhabitants were already familiar with it. Members of Balanga communities called it Likweli, while Mituku communities used the namekasaba nkoni, meaning the one that shakes the branches. However, when researchers interviewed residents across 52 nearby villages, people in only eight villages had actually seen the timid animals, which tend to remain hidden high in the canopy.
Kate Detwiler, an associate professor of biological sciences at Florida Atlantic University, explained that these thumb-less canopy herbivores play an essential ecological role by actively participating in seed processing and forest germination. Genetically, the closest relative to Colobus congoensis lives more than 1,200 kilometers away in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, with the two lineages having separated more than four million years ago.
Conservation Status and Threats
Scientists and conservationists have warned that the newly described species is threatened by hunting for bushmeat and habitat loss, prompting recommendations to place it on the lesoir.be Red List as nature.com. Researchers point out that the animal occupies a restricted distribution area of approximately 1,700 square kilometers within the Lomami National Park, making its continued protection an urgent priority.
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