A unique monkey species with eye-catching orange lips has been officially identified in Africa after nearly two decades since its initial sighting. This small primate, characterized by black fur and a long tail, belongs to the Colobus genus indigenous to Africa. The discovery took place at Lomami National Park in the interfluve region of the Lomami and Congo (Lualaba) rivers in the eastern-central part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Known as Colobus congoensis or Likweli, this monkey marks only the fifth new African monkey species found in the last 75 years. Initially observed in 2008 within the Lomami Basin, the Likweli monkeys were not seen again until November 2018, when they were sighted 114 times up to 2022. Despite the extensive familiarity with other primates among local communities, only a minority of residents in the surveyed areas bordering the new species’ habitat were able to recognize and accurately describe it.
According to a study published in the PLoS One journal, both male and female Likweli monkeys possess a distinctive orange-cream to pinkish bare skin patch encircling the mouth, extending from the upper lip to the lower face. The size of this colored patch varies among individuals, creating a unique “mask-like appearance” due to the surrounding black skin covering the eyelids and eye areas.
Described as a rare and elusive species predominantly found in high, dense canopy forests, the newly identified monkey has been recommended for endangered status due to its limited range and population size. The researchers, who conducted the study in collaboration with experts from the DRC, the United States, and Germany, emphasized the urgent need for conservation efforts, including safeguarding the Lomami National Park where most of the Colobus congoensis population resides, and involving local communities in prohibiting hunting activities to ensure the species’ preservation.