An extraordinary African monkey, distinguished by a unique orange patch around its mouth and a low, croaky call, has been identified in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as a new species—and it may already be endangered.
The newly recognized species, Colobus congoensis, also known as Likweli, was discovered in the Lomami National Park in Congo. It shares a close relationship with the black colobus, its “sister” species. While the local communities were familiar with this monkey, it had not been scientifically described until now.
Researchers have confirmed through genetic analyses in a paper published on Wednesday in PLOS One that C. congoensis is indeed a new species. Notably, it is only the fifth new African monkey species to be identified in the last 75 years.
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Daniel Rosengren, Frankfurt Zoological Society
C. congoensis is a small monkey—adults generally weigh around 15 pounds (seven kilograms)—and is easily identified by a “striking orange cream patch” around its mouth and a patch of fine white hair on its rear, according to the study’s authors. Its call resembles the sound of a frog or pig snorting to those unfamiliar with it.
The journey to this discovery spanned nearly 20 years. It began in 2008 when a research team exploring the forest captured the first known image of the monkey.
“There was something ‘strange’ about its face,” notes Junior Amboko, a co-author of the study and a Ph.D. student in the Department of Biological Sciences at Florida Atlantic University.
However, the initial photo was blurry, and scientists were unsure if it represented a new species.
Subsequent images revealed that the monkey lacked a thumb, a trait characteristic of Colobus monkeys. “But we didn’t know if it was a [new] species or a subspecies,” Amboko explains.
In 2020, Amboko and his team initiated the Likweli Project, aimed at classifying this enigmatic monkey. They gathered additional images, documented its vocalizations, and analyzed samples from deceased monkeys confiscated from illegal hunting activities in the park.
The genetic analysis of tissue samples ultimately confirmed it as a new species. “We were shocked with the genetic data because it gave us such a signal of deep divergence,” says Kate Detwiler, senior author of the study and an associate professor of biological sciences at Florida Atlantic University. Amboko proposed the name Colobus congoensis to honor the DRC’s rich biodiversity.
C. congoensis faces threats from hunting and human population growth. The researchers have recommended in their paper that it be classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which monitors at-risk species.
The study emphasizes that protecting Lomami National Park, where most of the C. congoensis habitat is found, and collaborating with local communities to prevent hunting are crucial for conserving this species.
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