New species of monkey with orange lips discovered in rainforest

The species is already feared to be endangered (Picture: SWNS)

A new species of monkey with unusual orange lips has been discovered deep in the rainforests of Africa.

The species – already feared to be endangered – can be identified by its facial markings and unique call,say scientists.

It is known locally in the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo as ‘Likweli’ and is only the fifth new monkey species identified in Africa in the last 75 years.

The species had remained undocumented despite decades of scientific exploration in the region. It was first sighted in 2008,when researchers captured a partially obscured photograph of the monkey.

A decade later,researchers encountered the animal again and obtained a much clearer image. The discovery sparked further investigation into the elusive primate.

Junior Amboko (left) said the discovery is ‘exciting and deeply personal’ (Picture: SWNS)

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Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.Now,new genetic,anatomical and acoustic analyses have confirmed that the monkey represents a distinct evolutionary lineage that diverged from its closest known relative four to five million years ago.The species – given the name Colobus congoensis – may already be at risk because of its limited range,habitat loss,and hunting pressure.The discovery was made by an international team of scientists led by researchers from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in the United States and the Lukuru Wildlife Research Foundation in the DRC.Study co-author Junior Amboko,a FAU PhD student,said: ‘This discovery is both exciting and deeply personal,highlighting the extraordinary biodiversity of my homeland and how much remains undocumented.‘I was fortunate to be part of this discovery from the very beginning – from recognising in the first photographs that we were looking at something new in the forest,to training field teams to document its behaviour,analysing the data and helping write the scientific paper.’The cute monkeys have bright orange lips (Picture: SWNS)‘Being involved through every stage,from fieldwork to the lab,made this an especially rewarding experience.‘It makes it even more meaningful that the name I proposed,Colobus congoensis,was chosen. The name honours the Democratic Republic of Congo,a country with extraordinary biodiversity,and reflects the incredible natural heritage that continues to reveal new discoveries.’With its glossy black fur,cape-like shoulders,a long sweeping tail and a vivid orange-cream patch around the mouth and nose,he said C. congoensis had a ‘striking,mask-like’ appearance.Between 2018 and 2022,researchers recorded 114 sightings across an estimated range of 1,700 square kms.But even as the species enters the scientific record,researchers warn it may already be at risk.Due to its extremely limited range,small population size,growing hunting pressure and ongoing habitat loss,scientists are proposing C. congoensis be classified as ‘endangered’ on the IUCN Red List.Study first author Dr John Hart,of the Lukuru Wildlife Research Foundation,added: ‘We continue to be reminded that the Congo Basin remains one of the world’s last great frontiers for mammal discovery.‘Even in regions that have been scientifically explored,entirely new species are still coming to light.’Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at .For more stories like this,check our news page.