A monkey with orange-coloured lips found in DR Congo’s forest has been confirmed as a new species by scientists.

Locally called “Likweli” in DR Congo, it was noticed for its distinct features by conservationists in 2018, before a study of the monkey by an international team confirmed it is a new species of monkey.

The research team, from the DRC, the US and Germany, led by Junior Amboko, a PhD student at Florida Atlantic University, published their findings on the monkey’s genetics in the journal PLoS One on July 15.

The scientist rechristened the new monkey species, Colobus congoensis.

The new monkey species was found in the interfluve region of the Lomami and Congo (Lualaba) Rivers in east-central Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

“Colobus congoensis is a rare and cryptic monkey, poorly known even by local communities bordering its range, some of whom use the vernacular name Likweli for the species,” the study stated.

It added, “Among other features, C. congoensis is distinguished from C. satanas and other Colobus species by its small size, a striking orange-cream patch surrounding the mouth, philtrum, and portions of the inferior nasal alae on an otherwise black face, and a white perianal patch that is covered with fine white hairs in males and is glabrous in females.”

The study proposed a preliminary IUCN Red List classification of Endangered (EN) for C. congoensis based on its small range area and population size, coupled with the projected impact of increased hunting pressure and habitat conversion.

It also proposed that the protection of Lomami National Park, within which most of the C. congoensis range occurs, and engagement of local communities to avoid hunting the species are the most important actions needed to ensure the conservation of C. congoensis.

This is the fifth African monkey species to be discovered over the past seven decades.