Monkey with striking orange lips found after years hiding in Congo forest

Scientists have officially identified a previously unknown monkey species with vivid orange lips in the remote rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), ending years of scientific uncertainty over whether the small, isolated population represented a distinct species. The scientific findings have been published in the journal PLOS One.Named Colobus congoensis, the monkey stands out for its striking orange lips, mask-like facial markings and distinctive vocalisations. According to researchers, it is one of the rare instances in recent decades in which a new monkey species has been formally described, and it provides new insights into the evolutionary history of African colobus monkeys.The study was led by an international team of scientists from who spent years studying the mysterious monkeys in the central Congo Basin.