New Monkey Species Discovered in Africa
Posted on September 12, 2012
A new monkey species has been discovered in the remote forests of DR Congo. The monkey is known locally as Lesula and has the scientific name Cercopithecus Lomamiensis. The new monkey was reported in a paper published in PLos One.
OurAmazingPlanet reports that John Hart, scientific director for the Lukuru Wildlife Research Foundation, first recognized the new monkey in a photograph of one of the monkeys sitting next to a little girl in a village. The monkey was the pet of the girl named Georgette. Sadly, this particular monkey later disappeared and is suspected to have been eaten by a villager.
Lesula monkeys have amazing looking eyes and long faces. Female Lesula monkeys weigh up to 7 pounds and males weigh up to 15 pounds. They eat fruit and plants. The males have bright blue buttocks and bright blue testicles.
CNN reports that Teresa and John Hart's Lukuru Foundation are working to have a national park established in the Lomani park to help preserve its biodiversity. Eating of bushmeat in common in the region and is a threat to the region's unique animals, including the newly discovered Lesula monkeys.