Named Colobus congoensis—locally called “Likweli”—the species represents only the fifth new monkey species identified in Africa over the past 75 years. The study appears in PLOS One, and the authors argue that the evidence meets the high threshold required to validate a new evolutionary lineage rather than a regional variant of a known taxon.

The work integrates four complementary lines of evidence: genetics, anatomy, field observations, and local ecological knowledge. Researchers used museum holdings alongside comparative datasets, examining skull morphology, pelage traits, and skeletal characteristics to demonstrate that this monkey is distinct from other African colobus species.

Gilbert’s team focused on formal anatomical diagnosis after field researchers recovered specimens enabling high-resolution comparisons. Extensive reference collections from the Yale Peabody Museum and the American Museum of Natural History were analyzed, with key measurements compiled in a comparative database used to separate C. congoensis from its closest congeners.

Genetic analyses placed the new species within the genus Colobus while estimating that it diverged from its nearest known relative, Colobus satanas, roughly 4–5 million years ago. Independent anatomical assessments supported the same species-level conclusion.

The species is immediately recognizable for a glossy black coat, cape-like fur, a sweeping tail, and orange-cream facial markings. At about 15 pounds, it is smaller than its closest relatives and exhibits distinctive cranial, dental, and skeletal traits.

Beyond morphology, the researchers documented unique vocalizations. The Likweli’s deep, resonant roaring calls show structural differences from related colobus species, strengthening the behavioral case for taxonomic distinctiveness.

However, the monkey’s conservation outlook is concerning. Between 2018 and 2022, observers recorded only 114 sightings across an estimated 1,700 square kilometers, suggesting a restricted distribution vulnerable to habitat loss and hunting pressure.

The authors propose Endangered status, emphasizing that most confirmed habitat lies within Lomami National Park—making protection of the region a central priority for both biodiversity and evolutionary research.

Subject of Research: Animals
Article Title: Likweli: A remarkable new species of Colobus monkey from the Lomami National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo
News Publication Date: 15-Jul-2026
Web References: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0349857
References: 10.1371/journal.pone.0349857
Image Credits: Bernard Bonanga

Keywords: primates, genetics, evolutionary biology, anthropology, animals

Researchers report that the animal had effectively “vanished” from the scientific record despite decades of exploration in Central Africa. The first clue came in 2008, when researchers captured a partially obscured photograph. A clearer sighting and image were obtained about a decade later, enabling deeper follow-up investigations.

The current study integrates genetic, anatomical, and acoustic analyses. Using these complementary lines of evidence, the team concluded that C. congoensis forms a distinct evolutionary lineage that diverged from its closest known relative 4 to 5 million years ago, indicating an unusually ancient split within the Colobus lineage.

Published in PLOS One, the research also supports a formal anatomical diagnosis. Comparative skull and pelage analyses were used alongside museum datasets, helping distinguish C. congoensis from other African colobus monkeys. The investigators further identified traits involving cranial and dental features consistent with species-level separation.

Acoustics provided an additional diagnostic layer. The monkey’s deep, resonant roaring calls resemble those of related Colobus species, but the acoustic structure differs, supporting the idea that the species is evolutionarily and biologically distinct.

Fieldwork combined with local knowledge to estimate distribution and behavior. Across 2018 to 2022, the team recorded 114 sightings within an estimated range of about 1,700 square kilometers—an unusually restricted area for colobus monkeys. Local communities emphasized the animal’s elusiveness and referred to it using names tied to its behavior.

Despite its scientific debut, the researchers warn that the species may already face serious risk. Limited range, small population size, habitat loss, and hunting pressure are central concerns, and the team proposes an Endangered classification on the IUCN Red List, largely because key habitat overlaps with Lomami National Park.

The discovery was led by an international collaboration involving institutions including Florida Atlantic University, Lukuru Wildlife Research Foundation, Yale University, the City University of New York, and Lomami National Park partners. The work highlights how much undiscovered biodiversity remains in the Congo Basin and how quickly species can disappear before they are fully understood.

Subject of Research: Animals
Article Title: Likweli: A remarkable new species of Colobus monkey from the Lomami National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo
News Publication Date: 15-Jul-2026
Web References: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0349857
References: PLOS One (Article link above)
Image Credits: Daniel Rosengren
Keywords: Colobus congoensis; Likweli; DRC; primatology; species discovery; genetics; anatomy; bioacoustics; endangered species; Congo Basin; Lomami National Park