Orange lips and a froglike roar: New monkey discovered after 18-year search in Congo rainforest

Orange Lips and a Froglike Roar: New Monkey Species Found in Congo

Orange lips and a froglike roar - After an 18-year search through the dense Congo rainforest, scientists have officially confirmed a new monkey species with distinctive orange lips and a froglike vocalization. This remarkable discovery brings the total number of known Colobus monkey species to six, all native to the African continent. The newly documented primate, locally known as Likweli by the Balanga ethnic group, was first glimpsed in the treetops in 2008 but remained unidentified until recent research confirmed its unique status.

Small in stature with bright orange mouth features, the monkey inhabits what is now Lomami National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In scientific literature, it has been formally classified as Colobus congoensis. Julia Arenson, a postdoctoral fellow at Yale's Department of Anthropology and the Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies, co-authored the study that officially recognized this species. "Our team evaluated multiple datasets that all reached the same conclusion: Likweli is a distinct species of Colobus monkey we haven't seen before," Arenson explained. "Discovering a primate species is exceptionally rare, especially from populations previously unknown to science."

An Eighteen-Year Investigation

The journey to confirming this new species began when researchers captured a photograph of an unfamiliar black monkey high in the rainforest canopy in 2008. The image quality was insufficient to determine whether the animal represented a previously unknown species. A decade later, a second sighting reignited scientific interest and launched a comprehensive research project. Terese Hart, another co-author of the study, noted: "Only after 10 years of exploring the Lomami Forest did we have enough clear views and convincing photos to allow us to say that there was yet another new monkey."

Between 2018 and 2022, the research team conducted extensive fieldwork across the monkey's habitat. Scientists surveyed forests, recorded the animal's characteristic orange lips and a froglike calls, analyzed genetic samples, and interviewed residents in 52 villages bordering the species' range. Despite documenting 114 sightings across approximately 1,700 square kilometres of forest, the monkey remained remarkably elusive. Notably, residents in only eight of the surveyed villages recognized the species, which is significant given the communities' extensive knowledge of local wildlife.

"The discovery and documentation of the Likweli never would have happened without our team of Congolese explorer naturalists. These field leaders recognized when they were in front of something they did not know. They put in the extra effort needed to document and confirm it." — John Hart, study lead

Published in the scientific journal PLOS One, the findings reveal that the Likweli is only the fifth African monkey species to be described from a previously unknown wild population in the past 75 years. Researchers estimate that the monkey occupies a limited area of forest situated between three tributaries of the Congo River. The team warns that hunting and expanding human activity pose serious threats to the species' survival. Consequently, the research team has recommended that the species be classified as endangered.

Eric Sargis, professor of anthropology at Yale University, emphasized the broader significance of this finding. "This is a rare discovery with significant conservation implications," he stated. With Colobus congoensis now officially recognized by the scientific community, researchers hope the discovery will help draw attention to the critical need to protect Lomami National Park, its extraordinary biodiversity, and the many species yet to be discovered within its boundaries.