Meet The Monkey With An Oddly Human-Looking Face And A Bright Blue Booty

Discovering a new species took three years. Researchers set up cameras and recorders in the forest to watch the shy lesula and record its sounds. Researchers also gathered samples of skin from a dead lesula for further study.Confirming a new species isn't easy. Researchers needed three years to prove they found something new. They set up cameras and recorders in the forest to observe the lesula, which are shy little guys, and figure out its sounds. Researchers also gathered samples of skin from a dead lesula for further study.Researchers gathered samples of skin from a dead lesula for further study.Scientists used skin samples from a dead lesula to study it further.

Genetic samples from that skin let scientists pinpoint when the lesula split from another species. A river likely developed and separated them, meaning the lesula has existed for millions of years.

When the lesula was found in 2012, it became the first new recorded monkey species.This occurred in 28 years.Since then, a new orangutan has also been discovered.A new orangutan has been discovered.The lesula population is fairly large, but only about 800 orangutans exist.

Scientists found a new rat, measuring 18 inches long. This rat is a nightmare. We stick with the lesula, though. Check out the massive rat here.Check out the massive rat here.Check out the massive rat here.

The lesula was found in an area of the Congo.The lesula was found in an area of the Congo.Scientists explored the Lomani forest basin. This area spans 6,500 square miles between the Lomani and Tshuapa river systems. That size matches Hawaii.That area matches Hawaii.That area is bigger than the Bahamas.That area is bigger than the Bahamas..

Most people did not know the lesula was in the forest. Locals used it as food. Who knows what else the Lomani basin holds?

Discovering new species still happens today. There are likely millions more undiscovered species out there.There are likely millions more undiscovered species.Some new species come from fossils. Plenty of others still live somewhere. Unexplored areas of the world cause this; the lesula discovery in the Congo shows this.

#MonkeyOfTheWeekPicture of the lesula, rear view: pic.twitter.com/nmTSuH6c

Besides a humanlike face, the lesula has a pink face and a golden mane. It only weighs about 12 pounds.It only weighs about 12 pounds.It measures about 20 inches. The lesula's blue rear area is striking; the butt and testicle region are bold blue.

A sad point is the brilliant blue booty. When the lesula dies, the blue skin fades to white.The blue skin fades to white..

After the lesula discovery, many people felt it seemed familiar. The internet compared the lesula to famous faces.The internet compared the lesula to a few famous faces.These faces include Jake Gyllenhaal, David Schwimmer, and the Mona Lisa.Some compared the monkey to a Rembrandt portrait.Rembrandt painted the monkey. Its eyes make the lesula seem familiar. This lets people see human traits in the monkey, more so than other monkeys and apes.

The Democratic Republic of CongoThe Congo, formerly Zaire, has not always been friendly for animals. But, for the environment, a positive step forward happened.Over 3,000 square miles were recently protected as a national park.This area holds many animals, including four primate species only found in the Lomani river basin (TL2 area). A militia attacked a wildlife facility in 2012, killing two wildlife rangers and 13 okapi, despite government attempts to stop illegal poaching.

Controversy and violence have plagued the Congo for decades. A war from 1997-2003, partly fueled by mineral resources, killed six million people. Fighting mostly ended in 2003, but the UN stayed in east Congo until 2016 to manage militia activity. The Congo's president died in 2001, and elections have often faced problems—sometimes not happening at all. In 2006, the Congo held its first free election in 40 years.

The research team worried about the lesula population because locals hunted it a lot. However, researchers found no difference when comparing lesula populations in hunted versus non-hunted forests.

The lesula is thriving, which is good, but this does not mean it is safe. Locations where lesulas were found lack logging; we do not know how lesulas fare if their environment degrades. Also, tracking lesula populations showed researchers were surprised to see animals like bushpigs, once common, dwindling due to increased hunting. Will lesulas face more hunting as bushpigs become harder to find?

John and Terese Hart.They are a husband and wife research team and the founders of the Lukuru Foundation.The Lukuru Foundation spearheaded the discovery of the lesula. The Foundation works to protect the Congo, the area where the lesula was found. The Harts spent their lives studying and guarding the natural environment of the Democratic Republic of Congo. They initially took their infant daughter there, and their second daughter was born in the Congo. The Harts even built a house there.The Lukuru Foundation spearheaded the discovery of the lesula. The Foundation works to protect the Congo, the area where the lesula was found. The Harts spent their lives studying and guarding the natural environment of the Democratic Republic of Congo. They initially took their infant daughter there, and their second daughter was born in the Congo. The Harts.The Harts even built a house there.The Harts built a house there.

Monkeys swing in trees and eat plants. Wrong. Lesulas eat plants, but they do not swing much in trees. Lesulas actually prefer to hang out on the ground.Lesulas hang out on the ground.Lesulas can climb, of course.Lesulas climb when they choose to.This habit means lesulas adapted to different threats than monkeys that live mainly in trees.