Julia GomezUSA TODAY
July 16, 2026, 2:24 p.m. ET
A new species of monkey with an orange patch on its lips was discovered living in the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo and is considered “one of the rarest discoveries in modern primatology,” according to a news release.
The monkey, called “Likweli” locally, was named Colobus congoensis, according to a news release from Florida Atlantic University. It was first spotted by researchers in 2008, when they photographed a partially obscured monkey.
Video shows the monkeys in their natural habitat vocalizing while in trees.
Genetic, anatomical and acoustic analyses confirmed that the monkey is a species that might have diverged from its closest relative around 4 to 6 million years ago. It lives in the east-central Democratic Republic of Congo in Central Africa, between the Lomami and Congo (Lualaba) rivers in the area’s “most biologically significant regions,” according to the news release.
Here’s what to know about the new discovery.
See video of Colobus congoensis
What does the Likweli monkey look like?
The monkeys have sleek, black fur that reflects light and long tails, with a “vivid orange-cream patch around the mouth and nose,” The monkey weighs about 15 pounds and is smaller than other monkeys in its family
Long, black fur gives the monkey “dramatic facial features,” the news release said. It also has folded ears, and males of the species are further distinguished by white perianal markings, which are tufts of fur located near the animal’s anus or near its tail.
Team of international researchers publishes paper on the monkey
The researcher’s findings were published in PLOS One, and the discovery was made by a team of scientists from multiple institutions, including FAU, the Lukuru Wildlife Research Foundation, Yale University, the City University of New York, Lomami National Park in the Congo and Frankfurt Zoological Society in Germany.
“This discovery is both exciting and deeply personal, highlighting the extraordinary biodiversity of my homeland and how much remains undocumented,” Junior Amboko, the study’s co-corresponding author, said in a statement. Amboko is also a PhD student in the Department of Biological Sciences in FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Science and a National Geographic Explorer.
Newly discovered species could be at risk
Despite the species having only just been discovered, researchers believe it may be at risk, according to the news release.
Its small population lives in an “extremely limited range,” and habitat loss and hunting pressure could put stress on the monkey’s population.
“The discovery of Colobus congoensis is both a scientific triumph and a sobering reminder that some of Earth’s rarest creatures may vanish before the world even knows they exist,” Kate Detwiler, the senior and corresponding author and associate professor of biological sciences in FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, said in a statement.
From 2018 to 2022, the study’s researchers recorded 114 sightings of the monkey, which appears to be “naturally isolated by rivers and forest barriers,”
Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers invasive species, space phenomena, scientific studies, natural disasters and trending news. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com.
