Researchers have identified a new species of monkey with distinctive orange lips in the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo [1].

The discovery highlights the vast amount of undocumented biodiversity remaining in the Congo Basin. Identifying new primates in the modern era is rare, signaling that the region's dense forests still harbor significant biological secrets.

The species is locally known as the "Likweli" [1]. Scientists documented the animal's characteristics and classification in a scientific paper published in the journal PLOS ONE [1]. The primate is distinguished primarily by its striking orange-colored lips [1].

This finding is a rare event for primatology. The Likweli is the fifth new species of African monkey discovered in the last 75 years [5]. Such discoveries provide critical data for conservation efforts in the DRC, where rainforest habitats face ongoing pressure.

Junior Amboko, a researcher involved in the project, said the discovery is both exciting and deeply personal, highlighting the extraordinary biodiversity of his homeland and how much remains undocumented [2].

The identification process relied on field observations and the peer-reviewed analysis provided in the PLOS ONE publication [1]. The research team worked within the rainforests of the DRC to verify the species' unique physical traits, and genetic distinctions from known monkeys [1, 4].

“The Likweli is the fifth new species of African monkey discovered in the last 75 years.”

The discovery of the Likweli monkey underscores the critical importance of continued field research in the Congo Basin. Because only five new African monkey species have been documented in 75 years, this find suggests that current biodiversity catalogs are incomplete. It emphasizes the need for expanded protected areas to ensure that newly identified species do not go extinct before they can be fully studied.