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Shvoong Home>Internet & Technology>Websites>New genus of African monkey found Review

New genus of African monkey found

Website Review   by:Artificial    
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Rungwecebus kipunji is a new type of discovered monkey that is considered to belong to a new genus. To find a new genus of a mammalian creature is relatively rare. This monkey—and it’s genus—was apparently the first in over eighty years. From Africa, the monkey is genetically similar to baboons, but is physiologically distinct from the other creature. Some scientists consider the new monkey to be close to extinction, although they know little about the newly discovered species.Rungwecebus kipunji resides in Tanzania, at high altitudes—the Southern Highlands and the Udzungwa Mountains, and in trees primarily. The animal is around three feet and has light brownish fur on most of its body, and light colored fur on the animal’s stomach area. On its head, the monkey has a shock of fur, similar to a Mohawk. Also, the animal has a long, thin tail, and a darkish snout.From a dead Rungwecebus kipunji, scientists have discovered that this particular monkey is genetically similar to baboons, although the Rungwecebus kipunji seems to look rather distinct from baboons and have distinct habits. Baboons generally live on the ground while the Rungwecebus kipunji generally live in trees and are also generally reclusive. Also, some of them live in an area of Tanzania rarely frequented by people, at least scientist.Already, scientists are declaring the newly discovered monkey to be on the verge of extinction. Without even having a completed census of the animals, they point out that one of the habitats of Rungwecebus kipunji is being heavily logged for lumber, which could affect the tree-dwelling monkeys.Still, there seems to be a tendency for scientists to declare a newly found species—or genus—as being on the verge of extinction although they are without a large amount of information on the species or genus as the creature has only been recently found—at least for Western civilization.
Published: May 12, 2006   
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