Scientists Confirm New Monkey Species with Striking Orange Lips in Congo Rainforest

An international research team has officially documented a new monkey species living in the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo, marking only the fifth African monkey species to be formally identified in the past 75 years. The animal, known locally as Likweli and scientifically named Colobus congoensis, displays striking pinkish-orange lips contrasting with its black face and silky black fur. Researchers recommend it be classified as Endangered due to its restricted habitat and vulnerability to hunting and deforestation.

Discovery and Search Process

Conservationists first photographed the unusual primate in 2008 within Lomami National Park in central-eastern DRC, but the image was too blurry for definitive identification. A second sighting in 2018 prompted researchers from Florida Atlantic University, the DRC, and Germany to launch a systematic investigation. Over the following four years, the team recorded 114 separate sightings across an area of 1,700 square kilometres between the Lomami and Lilo rivers, primarily observing the monkeys in small groups of approximately six individuals.

The search strategy combined multiple research methods. Teams conducted interviews with residents in 52 villages near the animals' habitat, discovering that only eight communities had encountered the monkeys. Researchers also captured audio recordings and collected genetic samples that confirmed the species' distinct evolutionary lineage. Junior Amboko, a PhD student at Florida Atlantic University who played a central role in the research, described the experience as "an amazing feeling" to encounter an animal so few people knew existed.

Distinctive Characteristics

The Likweli monkey possesses several unique identifying features. Its appearance includes slate-grey cheekbones framing black-rimmed eyes, with a white patch around the anus providing additional visual distinction. Beyond physical traits, the species produces acoustically distinctive vocalizations—loud roars described as resembling a cross between a burp and house music baseline—that carry considerable distances through the forest canopy. These calls differ markedly from those of other colobus monkey species, providing scientists with another identifying marker.

Behavioural observations revealed that the monkeys display a "quiet and watchful nature," according to Kate Detwiler from Florida Atlantic University. Rather than fleeing when encountering humans, the animals climb higher into the canopy and observe the researchers in return. Colobus congoensis belongs to a larger primate group characterized by the absence of thumbs. These herbivores inhabit the forest canopy, where they play a critical ecological role in seed processing and forest germination.

Conservation Implications

Genetic and morphological analyses revealed that Likweli monkeys are most closely related to black colobus monkeys (Colobus satanas), despite being separated by over 1,200 kilometres of forest and more than 3.5 million years of independent evolution. The research team's findings, published in the journal PLoS One, emphasize the conservation urgency surrounding this species. Given its small population size, limited geographic range, and exposure to habitat loss and hunting pressure, Colobus congoensis faces significant threats to its long-term survival.

Detwiler emphasized the broader significance: "Discovering a new monkey species is extraordinarily rare, and it highlights how much remains to be documented in the Congo Basin and how urgent it is to protect the small area where this species is found." The discovery underscores Lomami National Park's critical importance for primate conservation in Central Africa.