Scientists discover 'exciting' new orange-lipped monkey that roars

Key Points:

• Researchers have identified a new species of black-furred monkey with distinctive orange lips, named C. congoensis or "Likweli," in the Lomami National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo, marking only the fifth African monkey species discovered in the last 75 years.
• The monkey features unique physical traits such as glossy black fur, a white rump patch, spiky hair, and an orange mask around its mouth and nose, and produces deep, loud roars and snorts unlike other Colobus monkeys.
• The discovery was confirmed through DNA sequencing of specimens confiscated from illegal bushmeat hunters, revealing that C. congoensis diverged from its closest relative, the black colobus, about 5 million years ago.
• Researchers observed the species living in groups of up to 20, weighing around 15 pounds, and noted that only a few local villages were familiar with it, mainly due to hunting for food.
• Scientists recommend classifying the species as endangered due to its rarity, limited range of approximately 650 miles, and threats from hunting and deforestation, highlighting concerns about tropical forest conservation.