IT WAS a distinctive “honk-bark” as opposed to a “whoop-gobble” that gave it away. The highland mangabey, discovered in Tanzania, is the first new African monkey species to be discovered in more than 20 years. And its unique call is partly what sets it apart from other mangabeys.
Two teams independently discovered the shy, tree-dwelling monkey in mountain ranges about 350 kilometres apart. It has long cheek whiskers, a tall crest of hair atop its head and is a little bigger than its close relative, the baboon.
The researchers suggest there may be fewer than 1000 highland mangabeys, making the…
