In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, scientists have identified a new species of monkey called Likweli. Its scientific name is Colobus congoensis.
This monkey has black fur and an orange color around its mouth. It mainly lives high in the trees of the Lomami National Park forests.
Scientists first saw a strange-looking monkey in 2008, but the photo they took was blurry. It took years of research to confirm that it was a new species.
Between 2018 and 2022, researchers observed the monkey 114 times. They studied its appearance, genes and even the sounds it makes.
Likweli lives in a relatively small area of about 1,700 km². Scientists believe it may be at risk and have proposed that it be classified as an endangered species.
A new species discovered in Africa… and it has orange lips!
