NEW COLOBUS MONKEY SPECIES DISCOVERED IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Scientists have described a new species of colobus monkey in the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to research published in PLOS One. The species, given the scientific name Colobus congoensis and the common name Likweli by local communities, was first photographed by conservationists in 2008 during an expedition to Lomami National Park. A second sighting occurred in 2010, after which researchers conducted a dedicated mission to locate and study the animal. The discovery marks only the fifth new species of African monkey to be formally described in the past 75 years.

Likweli monkeys are predominantly black but possess distinctive orange patches around the mouth and bare grey skin on their cheekbones, creating a mask-like appearance with black skin around the eyes. They also display a distinctive white fur patch around the anus. The species produces loud vocalisations called roars, punctuated by distinctive snorts, with the orange lips making these calls visually striking as well as audible. Field surveys established that Likweli occupy at least 1,700 square kilometres of closed-canopy forest between the Lomami and Lilo rivers. Genetic and morphological analyses revealed that Likweli are most closely related to black colobus monkeys, despite being separated by more than 1,200 kilometres of forest, with the two species estimated to have diverged between 5.78 million and 3.44 million years ago.

Researchers recommend classifying Likweli as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, citing its small geographic range and population size. The species was typically observed in small groups, often alongside other monkey species. Scientists note that Likweli appear particularly sensitive to habitat quality, given the species' restricted range compared to other colobus monkeys. The discovery underscores the conservation significance of Lomami National Park for primate species.