New Monkey Species Discovered in Congo

Biologist Jan Wieringa and researchers have officially identified a new monkey species, the ‘Likweli’ monkey, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The monkey is notable for its distinct orange lips and inhabits remote, heavily forested areas.

While approximately 16,000 new species are discovered annually, most are insects, spiders, or fish, new mammal discoveries are far less frequent. In the last 75 years, only five new monkey species have been discovered in Africa, including the Likweli monkey.

The process of identifying a new species involves both morphological study of bone structure and DNA analysis to confirm genetic differences. Wieringa recounts a discovery of a new tree species in Gabon 25 years ago, highlighting the need to collect specimens and compare them to existing scientific literature.

Currently, he is working to identify a new wasp species on Saba. Wieringa acknowledges that many animals are already known to indigenous populations, raising questions about the term "discovery." He emphasizes the value of local knowledge, having named a tree species after the Barega people of eastern Congo.