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The lesula (Cercopithecus lomamiensis) is a species of Old World monkey in the guenon family, found in the Lomami Basin of the Congo. Though known to locals, it was unknown to the international scientific community until it was discovered in 2007 and confirmed in a 2012 publication. The lesula is the second new species of African monkey to be discovered since 1984.[1] This monkey is described to have human looking eyes and a blue bottom[2][3] “And adult males have a huge bare patch of skin in the buttocks, testicles and perianal area,” said John A. Hart, the researcher who described the monkey. “It’s a brilliant blue, really pretty spectacular.”[4]
The lesula lives in rainforests in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the 2007 specimen found in captivity in the village of Opala. Since that sighting, it has also been seen in the wild. Its range is between the Lomami and Tshuapa rivers in the central part of the country.[5]
The lesula is vulnerable to hunting for bushmeat. Protecting the species could be challenging, as species with such a small range can go from vulnerable to seriously endangered in a few years. The lesula's range is within the Tshuapa–Lomami–Lualaba Conservation Landscape, and the Lomami National Park has been proposed to protect this and other species in the region.[5]
References
- ^ "Monkey, New To Science, Found In Central Africa". NPR. 2012-09-13. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/09/13/161097374/monkey-new-to-science-found-in-central-africa. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
- ^ John A. Hart, Kate M. Detwiler, Christopher C. Gilbert, Andrew S. Burrell, James L. Fuller, Maurice Emetshu, Terese B. Hart, Ashley Vosper, Eric J. Sargis & Anthony J. Tosi (2012). "Lesula: A new species of Cercopithecus monkey endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo and implications for conservation of Congo's central basin". PLoS ONE 7 (9): e44271. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0044271.
- ^ Ella Davies (September 13, 2012). "New monkey identified in Africa". BBC News. http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19556915. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
- ^ Bhanoo, Sindya N (September 13 2012), "A New Kind of Monkey, With Colors That Set It Apart", The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/18/science/a-new-kind-of-monkey-with-colors-that-set-it-apart.html?_r=2, retrieved 5 November 2012
- ^ a b David Braun (September 13, 2012). "New Monkey Discovered in the Congo". National Geographic. http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/09/13/new-monkey-discovered-in-the-congo/. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
Bibliography
- McKenzie, David (September 12, 2012). "New monkey discovered". CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/12/world/africa/dr-congo-new-monkey/index.html. Retrieved 2012-09-12.
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