Discoveries of new African primate species are rare but
significant events that clarify taxonomic and evolutionary relationships
and highlight important regions of biodiversity for conservation.
Here we report the scientific discovery of a new primate
species, Cercopithecus lomamiensis, sp. nov., found during field surveys
in a remote area of the middle Lomami Basin in central
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (Fig. 1). C. lomamiensis
represents only the second new species of African monkey to be
discovered in the past 28 years. The new species is a member of
the tribe Cercopithecini, commonly referred to as guenons, which
represents the most speciose clade of extant African primates.
Guenons are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa and occupy a range
of habitats from wooded savannas to closed forest [1]. The highest
diversity of guenons occurs in closed forests in Central and West
Africa where species utilize different canopy levels, including the
forest floor [2], and exhibit considerable dietary flexibility,
exploiting a diversity of leaf-, insect- and fruit-eating rainforest
niches [3]. Geographical and behavioral barriers have been
potentially important in guenon speciation [4,5], and the
distribution and relationship of species in related clades provides
insight into the biogeographic history of Central African faunas
and the evolution of key behavioral and ecological traits.
In this paper, we describe and name the new guenon species
and discuss its relationship with its nearest congener and sister
species, Cercopithecus hamlyni. This discovery adds a new species to
the previously monotypic and poorly known hamlyni species group,
and expands our understanding of this unique, semi-terrestrial
lineage within the guenon radiation. It furthermore highlights the
biogeographic significance and importance for conservation of the
eastern interfluvial region of the Congo River’s central basin,
known as the TL2 landscape, from the upper Tshuapa through the
Lomami River Basin to the Congo (Lualaba) River (Fig. 1). This
previously little surveyed forest region is shown to have high
taxonomic richness and endemism of anthropoid primates and
represents an important area for conservation of Central African
forest faunas.