Apparently, a group of biologists has found a new species of monkey in central Africa that the locals call the lesula, its a slender, medium-sized animal that looks similar to the already discovered owl-faced monkey.
The findings published in the scientific journal Plos One, it was identified as Cercopithecus lomamiensis, which is endemic to the lowland rainforests of central Congo.
Its is only the second time in 28 years that an unknown species of monkey has been found, highlighting the biodiversity in central Africa.
Investigations of this area began in June of 2007, after a young female monkey of an unknown species turned up at the home of a school director.
It seemed to him that this new monkey was similar but clearly not the same as the owl-faced Cercopithecus hamlyni, but the biologists who later examined it say the two are close relatives.
Later findings proved that the two monkeys are of different species, although to local hunters they look similar. A lesula apparently, has "significantly larger incisors, upper and lower second molars ... "
The male lesula "emits a distinctive low frequency, descending, loud call almost like a boom" that is different from the vocalizations of the other male.
Robert Kityo, of Uganda's Makerere University, claims the discovery is proof that Africa's vast jungles are not only teeming with barrels of undiscovered monkeys, but other unknown species as well.
"Something that was thought to be abundant can turn out to be rare," Professor Kityo said, referring to the previous confusion between lesula and a close relative. "In a sense, it's a nice find."
The lesula is described as "semi terrestrial with a diet containing terrestrial herbaceous vegetation".
A captive adult male Cercopithecus hamlyni, left, and an adult male Cercopithecus lomamiensis, right.
The monkey appears colourful in photographs, with long grizzled blond hairs and a variably distinct cream coloured nose stripe. It has a slight owlish look. Their eyes are very human like.
The team advises that the monkey's name should not be changed, because the lesula is used over most of its range.
The final paper was edited by Samuel T. Turvey of the Zoological Society of London. Article from SMH
I wonder if they’d make good pets?
The findings published in the scientific journal Plos One, it was identified as Cercopithecus lomamiensis, which is endemic to the lowland rainforests of central Congo.
Its is only the second time in 28 years that an unknown species of monkey has been found, highlighting the biodiversity in central Africa.
Investigations of this area began in June of 2007, after a young female monkey of an unknown species turned up at the home of a school director.
It seemed to him that this new monkey was similar but clearly not the same as the owl-faced Cercopithecus hamlyni, but the biologists who later examined it say the two are close relatives.
Later findings proved that the two monkeys are of different species, although to local hunters they look similar. A lesula apparently, has "significantly larger incisors, upper and lower second molars ... "
The male lesula "emits a distinctive low frequency, descending, loud call almost like a boom" that is different from the vocalizations of the other male.
Robert Kityo, of Uganda's Makerere University, claims the discovery is proof that Africa's vast jungles are not only teeming with barrels of undiscovered monkeys, but other unknown species as well.
"Something that was thought to be abundant can turn out to be rare," Professor Kityo said, referring to the previous confusion between lesula and a close relative. "In a sense, it's a nice find."
The lesula is described as "semi terrestrial with a diet containing terrestrial herbaceous vegetation".
A captive adult male Cercopithecus hamlyni, left, and an adult male Cercopithecus lomamiensis, right.
The monkey appears colourful in photographs, with long grizzled blond hairs and a variably distinct cream coloured nose stripe. It has a slight owlish look. Their eyes are very human like.
The team advises that the monkey's name should not be changed, because the lesula is used over most of its range.
The final paper was edited by Samuel T. Turvey of the Zoological Society of London. Article from SMH
I wonder if they’d make good pets?
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