Likweli

The likweli (Colobus congoensis) is a species of Old World monkey in the colobine genus Colobus. It is endemic to a small area of lowland rainforest between the Lomami River and the Lilo River in east-central Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), most of which lies within Lomami National Park. Formally described in 2026, it is the seventh recognised species of Colobus and the fifth new species of African monkey to be described in the previous 75 years. The monkey is smaller than most species of its genus and is mostly black. It is distinguished by a pinkish to orange-cream patch of bare skin around the mouth and nostrils, set against a dark face that includes a grayish mask around the eyes, and by a conspicuous white patch around the anus. Genetic, anatomical, and acoustic evidence identify its closest relative as the black colobus (Colobus satanas) of west-central Africa, more than 1,200 kilometres (750 mi) away. The likweli is estimated to have diverged from the black colobus approximately 5 million years ago, which is the deepest split known within the genus. Its discoverers have recommended that it be classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List.