Scientists Identify New All-Black Colobus Monkey Species in Congo Forests

An all-black monkey captured in a 2008 canopy photo prompted Junior Amboko of Florida Atlantic University to investigate its identity. Over several years of expeditions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the team recorded dozens of sightings, noting a bright orange patch around the mouth and a deep, resonant roar. Examination of skulls seized by the Congolese parks and nature authority revealed a small Colobus form resembling but distinct from Colobus satanas.

Evolutionary biologist Julia Arenson recognized the genus, and DNA testing confirmed a separate species that diverged from its nearest cousin at least four million years ago. The new primate, officially named Colobus congoensis, was described in a July 15 PLOS ONE paper. Conservationists warn that its limited 1,700-square-kilometre range and hunting pressure could already place it at risk, urging further study and community-based protection efforts.