Researchers describe a new rainforest monkey species from the Democratic Republic of Congo, named Likweli. The animal is notable for distinctive orange lips and has a call that can be heard during field observations. The work presents it as a species new to science, based on multiple lines of evidence gathered in the field.
The sources report that Likweli has been spotted only a few times by local people since around 2008. To confirm that it was not a known species, the research team conducts years of searching on foot and by canoe, alongside field observations, photographs, audio recordings, and biological sampling. Genetic analysis and anatomical comparisons are also used to support the species’ distinction.
Both outlets frame the discovery as rare and difficult to document, reflecting the monkey’s shy or elusive behavior. They also situate the find within broader primate taxonomy, noting that only a small number of African monkey species have been described in recent decades. Junior Amboko is identified as the doctoral student who named the monkey, and Kate Detwiler is cited as part of the international team.
