A new monkey species with distinctive orange lips and a deep roaring call has been identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Named Colobus congoensis and known locally as Likweli, it is the fifth new monkey species discovered in Africa in the last 75 years, according to a study published in PLOS ONE.
Researchers from Florida Atlantic University and the City University of New York Graduate Center described the monkey as having a glossy black coat, long fur, a sweeping tail, and striking orange-cream facial markings. It also possesses unique cranial, dental, and skeletal characteristics that distinguish it from all other known African colobus monkeys. The species is smaller than related Colobus monkeys, weighing about 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms).
Discovery and Confirmation
The process of describing the new species began in 2008, when an unusual monkey was photographed by researchers in east-central DR Congo. Ten years later, they made a clearer observation, and from 2018 to 2022, they recorded 114 sightings. In addition to anatomical and field observations, researchers studied the monkey's genetics and used local ecological knowledge to confirm it as a previously undescribed species.
Kate Detwiler, an associate professor of biological sciences at FAU's Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, said the discovery is reshaping understanding of African monkey evolution. Its closest known relative is Colobus satanas, found over 1,200 kilometers away in west-central Africa. Genetic evidence shows the two species diverged roughly 4 to 5 million years ago, marking one of the oldest known evolutionary splits within the Colobus lineage.
Conservation Concerns
Conservation concerns have been raised for Likweli, as sightings were made across an area of about 1,700 square kilometers. A statement from CUNY noted that researchers propose classifying Colobus congoensis as Endangered due to 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.
Alexander Georgiev, a senior lecturer in primatology at Bangor University, Wales, who was not involved in the study, called the analysis very thorough and convincing. He noted that finding a new monkey species not only unknown to science but also little known to local people is very rare and exciting. According to Georgiev, residents in only eight of 52 villages bordering the species' range were able to provide information about the primate. He explained that the vast, poorly explored Congolese rainforest explains why it took so long for the species to be documented.
