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6h ago

Scientists Describe New Colobus Monkey, Colobus congoensis, From Congo Basin

The species was formally named after evidence showed it is a distinct, ancient lineage and researchers warn its tiny range and hunting pressure make immediate protection necessary.

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Two 'Likweli' monkeys of a newly-identified species of Colobus monkey, discovered in Lomami National Park, sit on a tree branch, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in this undated handout image. Daniel Rosengren, Frankfurt Zoological Society/Handout via REUTERS
An illustration of Colobus congensis, whose common name is the local vernacular name, Likweli.

Overview

  • Researchers published a formal species description of Colobus congoensis (common name Likweli) in PLOS One on Wednesday after long‑term fieldwork and museum comparisons confirmed it was previously undocumented.
  • The team used multiple datasets—skull and pelt comparisons, vocal recordings, field observations, and DNA—to show Likweli is a separate Colobus species that diverged from its closest relative about 4.7–5.8 million years ago.
  • Field teams recorded 114 sightings between 2018 and 2022 across an estimated 1,700 square kilometers in and around Lomami National Park, and surveys found residents in only eight of 52 nearby villages could identify the monkey.
  • Three specimens confiscated by the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation in April 2021 were obtained with ICCN authorization and are now curated at the Yale Peabody Museum, which aided anatomical comparisons.
  • Because most known occurrences lie inside Lomami National Park and the population faces hunting and habitat loss, authors recommend classifying C. congoensis as Endangered and plan further population, ecological, and genomic studies alongside local community engagement.