Kipunji

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Kipunji[1][2]
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
Binomial name
Rungwecebus kipunji
(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. The kipunji has a unique call, described as a 'honk-bark', which distinguishes it from its relatives, the grey-cheeked mangabey and the black crested mangabey, whose calls are described as 'whoop-gobbles'.

The kipunji was independently discovered by researchers from the

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 to be 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]

Description

The kipunji's relatively long

ventrum. The pelage close to the hands and feet tends to be a medium to dark brown. Its hands, feet, and face are all black. These primates do not appear to show any sexual dimorphism in relation to pelage coloration. Adult male kipunjis have been observed at a typical length of 85–90 cm (33–35 in) and are estimated to weigh between 10 and 16 kg (22 and 35 lb).[4][2] One feature, in combination with their pelage coloration, that helps to separate kipunjis from their Cercocebus and Lophocebus relatives is the broad crest of hair on the crown of their heads.[2]

Distribution and habitat

Around 1,100 of the animals live in the highland Ndundulu Forest Reserve, adjacent to Udzungwa Mountains National Park, and in a disjunct population 250 miles away on Mount Rungwe and in Kitulo National Park, which is adjacent to it. The forest at Rungwe is highly degraded, and fragmentation of the remaining forest threatens to split that population into three smaller populations. The Ndundulu forest is in better shape, but the population there is smaller.

Conservation

The kipunji is classified as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List.[3] It was included in the list of "The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates" in 2006 and 2008.[7]

Its range is restricted to 17.7 km2 (6.8 sq mi) of forest in the two isolated regions, the Ndundulu forest and the Rungwe-Livingstone forest.[8]

Threats

The kipunji faces multiple threats, primarily stemming from human activities such as

Kilombero Nature Forest Reserve and Mount Rungwe Nature Reserves lack adequate management resources to counter these threats.[3]

References

  1. ^
    S2CID 46580799
    .
  2. ^
    S2CID 38690218
    .
  3. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T136791A17961368.en
    . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  4. ^
    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. ISBN 978-1-934151-34-1. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2014-02-20.
  8. ^ "Newly Discovered Monkey Is Threatened with Extinction". Newswise. Retrieved 2008-07-28.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rungwecebus kipunji.
Wikispecies has information related to highland mangabey.
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