Kipunji

Kipunji
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Family: Cercopithecidae
Subfamily: Cercopithecinae
Tribe: Papionini
Genus: Rungwecebus
Davenport, 2006
Species:
R. kipunji[1][2]
Binomial name
Rungwecebus kipunji[1][2]
(Jones et al., 2005)
Kipunji range

The kipunji (Rungwecebus kipunji), also known as the highland mangabey, is a species of Old World monkey that lives in the highland forests of Tanzania. It was independently discovered by researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society, the University of Georgia, and Conservation International, in December 2003 and July 2004, making it the first new African monkey species discovered since 1984.[1] Originally assigned to the genus Lophocebus,[1][4] genetic and morphological data showed that it is more closely related to the baboons (genus Papio) than to the other mangabeys in the genus Lophocebus. Scientists subsequently assigned it to a new genus, Rungwecebus, named after Mount Rungwe.[2] The kipunji is the first new monkey genus discovered since Allen's swamp monkey in 1923.[5]

Zoologists were initially skeptical of the existence of the kipunji until its discovery, as traditional tales of the Nyakyusa people described the monkey as both real and mythical.[6] It has a unique call, described as a 'honk-bark',[7] which distinguishes it from its relatives, the grey-cheeked mangabey and the black crested mangabey, whose calls are described as 'whoop-gobbles'.

  1. ^ a b c Jones, T.; Ehardt, C. L.; Butynski, T. M.; Davenport, T. R. B.; Mpunga, N. E.; Machaga, S. J.; De Luca, D. W. (2005). "The Highland Mangabey Lophocebus kipunji: A New Species of African Monkey". Science. 308 (5725): 1161–1164. Bibcode:2005Sci...308.1161J. doi:10.1126/science.1109191. PMID 15905399. S2CID 46580799.
  2. ^ a b Davenport, T. R. B.; Stanley, W. T.; Sargis, E. J.; De Luca, D. W.; Mpunga, N. E.; Machaga, S. J.; Link E. Olson (2006). "A New Genus of African Monkey, Rungwecebus: Morphology, Ecology, and Molecular Phylogenetics". Science. 312 (5778): 1378–1381. Bibcode:2006Sci...312.1378D. doi:10.1126/science.1125631. PMID 16690815. S2CID 38690218.
  3. ^ Davenport, T. (2019). "Rungwecebus kipunji". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T136791A17961368. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T136791A17961368.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  4. ^ Jones, P. (2005). "The Highland Mangabey Lophocebus kipunji: A new species of African monkey". Science. 308 (5725): 1161–1164. Bibcode:2005Sci...308.1161J. doi:10.1126/science.1109191. PMID 15905399. S2CID 46580799.
  5. ^ Than, K. (2006). "Scientists Discover New Monkey Genus In Africa". LiveScience. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
  6. ^ Palmer, B. (2012). "Yeti, licorne... les animaux fantastiques existent-ils vraiment?". Slate (in French). Retrieved 2019-12-26.
  7. ^ Ehardt, C. L.; Butynski, T. M. (2006). "The Recently Described Highland Mangabey, Lophocebus kipunji (Cercopithecoidea, Cercopithecinae): Current Knowledge and Conservation Assessment". Primate Conservation. 21: 82–84. doi:10.1896/0898-6207.21.1.81.