Junior Amboko and an international team of scientists confirm the discovery of a new monkey species in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Junior Amboko, a PhD student at Florida Atlantic University, led an international research team that officially confirmed the discovery of a new monkey species in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The primate, scientifically named Colobus congoensis and known locally as "Likweli," is characterized by its glossy black fur, white rump, and distinctive orange-cream patches around its mouth and nose. The team identified the species after years of observation in Lomami National Park, where the monkey is often hidden high in the forest canopy. While local communities were aware of the animal, it remained unknown to modern science until researchers used genetic sequencing and behavioral analysis to distinguish it from its relatives. The monkeys are notable for their deep, roaring vocalizations and their relatively small size, weighing approximately 15 pounds. Because the species occupies a limited geographic range and faces threats from hunting and deforestation, the administration announced that researchers recommend the monkey be classified as endangered. This find marks only the fifth new African monkey species discovered in the last 75 years.

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