Incredibly Unique Animals: Kipunji Monkey

The forests of Tanzania are home to hundreds of endemic animal species - those found no where else in the world. If we are to ensure the existence of these unique species we must protect their remaining habitat - something ARC has been doing for over twenty years. Every Wednesday, we will profile a different endemic species to give a peak into the amazing wildlife you can find in Tanzania’s forests.

If this is your first time visiting this series, be sure to check out past features: Lesser Bush Baby, Red Colobus Monkey, and the Grey Faced Elephant Shrew.

Today we bring you the Kipunji Monkey.

Range
Rungwecebus kipunji is found only in Tanzania in the Rungwe Kitulo Forest of the Southern Highlands and the Nndundulu Forest of the Udzungwa Mountains.

Description
This unique monkey was discovered in 2003 and officially reported in 2005. It represents the only species in a completely new genus, and up until its founding there hadn't been a new genus of primates discovered in over 80 years. Even though it has only recently been discovered, it is already listed critically endangered by the IUCN as there is only an estimated 1,100 individuals remaining, with only 6.83 square miles of forest range left. It is one of the most threatened primates in the world and is listed as one of “The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates." Thought to be a new species of Mangabey at first, the monkey is commonly referred to as the Highland Mangabey, but is in fact more closely related to baboons than mangabeys. The discovery of this new primate species shows how much there still is to learn about the incredible biodiversity in Tanzania's forests, reinforcing the need to conserve it.

Kipunjis are arboreal primates about three feet long and have thick, brown, fluffy fur with tufts and a black face and eyelids. This dense fur helps them to stay warm in the high elevations of the mountains where temperatures can drop below freezing. The males use a loud call said to sound like a 'honk-bark' which they use to determine the distance of other groups. This call is unique to the Kipunji and distinguishes it from the various mangabeys. The Kipunji is known to eat over 100 different species of plants and play a crucial role in dispersing their seeds. They are social animals and live in groups of about 30-36 individuals. They are particularly hard to spot since they are shy of humans and live in such isolated elevations.

Here is a great BBC video about the discovery of this elusive animal.

Scientists hope that fascinating discoveries like this one will inspire people to protect the remaining habitat of Eastern Africa, so that their inhabitants, like the Kipunji, can be better understood.

Threats and Solutions
The Kipunji faces many threats to its survival including fragmentation of habitat caused by logging, charcoal making, and unmanaged resource extraction. It is also frequently hunted because of its tendency to raid crops and is sometimes hunted for food. It also faces habitat loss from the encroachment of farmers. It is critical that these areas be conserved if these amazing animals are to survive into the future.

Sources:
BBC
Animal Diversity Web
National Geographic News
Science Daily
IUCN