It is only the fifth new monkey species to be identified in Africa in the past 75 years, and there might be more unknown monkey species in the region, scientists behind a new study suggested. Researchers named the newly identified species of monkey Colobus congoensis, after the region, and it is known by the common name "likweli" in the local Kilanga language.
In 2008, conservationists in the dense rainforests of Lomami National Park, within the Congo Basin in the DRC, photographed an unidentified monkey, but it was partially obscured. Then, in 2018 a similar-looking animal was captured on camera, prompting study co-author Junior Amboko, a Lomami National Park researcher and a Florida Atlantic University anthropologist, to set out to find the mysterious monkey.
"These people really know the fauna and flora in the forest," Amboko told Live Science. "In only eight villages, people knew the monkey — and these were hunters, who know the economic value of animals or how much food each animal can provide, but even they didn't know much."
The researchers worked in the Lomami National Park, within the Congo Basin in the Democratic Republic of Congo. (Image credit: Daniel Rosengren, Frankfurt Zoological Society )In their searches between 2018 and 2022, the researchers recorded 114 sightings of the species across an estimated range of about 660 square miles (1,700 square kilometers) naturally isolated between the Lomami and Lualaba rivers. They reported their findings July 15 in the journal PLOS One.
"We're going with the face and the rump as the two distinctive traits," said study co-author Kate Detwiler, an anthropologist at Florida Atlantic University. "If you see the face, you see this unique bare skin that's orange cream. And then if you're coming from behind, you see this white patch."
DNA analysis confirmed C. congoensis was a previously unknown species. (Image credit: Daniel Rosengren, Frankfurt Zoological Society )By taking samples, and sequencing DNA, from monkeys killed by hunters and destined for the illegal bushmeat trade, and comparing the results with what’s in museum collections and datasets of genetics, skulls, teeth and pelts for other colobus monkeys, the team confirmed that C. congoensis was a previously unknown species.
Researchers think the new species diverged up to 5.78 million years ago. (Image credit: Daniel Rosengren, Frankfurt Zoological Society )
The monkeys live in the same forest as the Angola colobus (Colobus angolensis), but their closest relatives are black colobus monkeys (Colobus satanas), which live around 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) to the west, in Cameroon, Gabon and Bioko Island.
Detwiler estimates that these close relatives diverged between 5.78 million and 3.44 million years ago — the longest known split between species within the Colobus genus. "The discovery is reshaping our understanding of African monkey evolution," she said.
Related storiesGiven the small geographic range, rare sightings and increasing habitat loss, the researchers recommend that C. congoensis be classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List.
The Congolian rainforest ranging across this part of Africa is the world's second-largest tropical forest, after the Amazon, and about 60% of it is in the DRC. "It is a paradise for biodiversity," Amboko said, adding that there might be more undescribed primate species there. "If we are able to discover two big new primate species, who knows how many other new mammals, fish, reptiles or plants there could be?"
What do you know about chimpanzees and great apes? Test your smarts with our primate quiz!
Hence then, the article about orange lipped monkey that roars and snorts deep in congo rainforest is new species to science was published today ( ) and is available on Live Science ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Orange-lipped monkey that roars and snorts deep in Congo rainforest is new species to science )
Also on site :