New Monkey Species Discovered in DR Congo

Scientists have discovered a new species of monkey, the Colobus congoensis, that has striking pinkish-orange lips and a black face and lives in the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

It was first spotted in 2008 but was only recently confirmed as a distinct species through photography, audio recordings and genetic analysis. The discovery, published in PLoS One, marks only the fifth new African monkey species identified in the past 75 years.

Researchers believe the shy, canopy-dwelling monkey is rare and threatened by hunting, and hope its official classification will help secure protection while further studies assess its population and behaviour.