In the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), scientists have identified a previously unknown species of African monkey – one of the rarest discoveries in modern primatology. Florida Atlantic scientists have identified a previously unknown species of African monkey named Colobus congoensis. This discovery marks only the fifth new monkey species in Africa identified in the past 75 years. Genetic and anatomical analyses confirmed it as a distinct species, separated from its closest relative by 4 to 5 million years of evolution. Found only within a small range of roughly 1,700 square kilometers, the monkey, which is mainly black with striking orange face patches confronts growing pressure from habitat loss and hunting and is being recommended for endangered conservation status. #newspecies #ColobusCongoensis #africanmonkey #africa #fauresearch