Scientists Discover New Monkey Species Likweli in Congo Rainforest

Key facts

• Scientists have discovered a new monkey species named Likweli (Colobus congoensis) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
• The species was formally described in a peer-reviewed study published in PLOS One.
• The Likweli belongs to the Colobus genus and features jet-black fur, a distinctive pink-and-orange mouth, and a deep roaring vocal call.
• Adults weigh about 15 pounds (around 7 kilograms) and measure roughly four feet from nose to tail.
• Genetic analysis suggests the Likweli separated from its closest known relative about five million years ago.
• The species occupies a tiny range of only 650 square miles inside the Congo Basin.
• Most sightings of the Likweli have occurred inside the Lomami National Park, a protected area established after the discovery of another monkey species, the Lesula, in 2012.
• Researchers conducted patrols covering over 3,000 miles and recorded 114 direct observations over four years to confirm the discovery.
• The discovery marks only the second new monkey species identified in the region in the past 15 years.