Despite centuries of exploration, scientists continue to find new species. The latest discovery is a monkey with distinctive orange lips and a deep roaring call. The monkey was found in a rainforest in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is just the fifth new species of African monkey to be found in 75 years. Locals call the monkey Likweli. Scientists gave it the scientific name Colobus congoensis. An anthropologist said the discovery was "both a scientific triumph and a sobering reminder that some of Earth's rarest creatures may vanish before the world even knows they exist".
Anthropologists say it is a different type of monkey. It has a glossy coat, long fur, and a long tail. It also has stunning facial markings. Researchers said the Likweli has "distinctive skull, dental, and skeletal characteristics". These distinguish it from other known colobus monkeys. Study co-author Professor Christopher Gilbert agreed. He said his team went to museums to analyze skulls, pelts, and skeletal anatomy from known African colobus monkeys. He said: "Those comparisons allowed us to demonstrate conclusively that Colobus congoensis represents a distinct species."
Try the same news story at these levels:
Likweli Monkeys - Level 4 or Likweli Monkeys - Level 6
Sources- https://www.sciencealert.com/an-entirely-new-species-of-monkey-has-been-living-in-the-congo-rainforest-this-whole-time
- https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meet-the-orange-lipped-likweli-monkey-a-new-species-that-was-discovered-in-the-congo-rainforest-180989140/
- https://edition.cnn.com/2026/07/16/science/new-monkey-species-likweli-scli-intl
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