The World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) new report from the Mekong region identified 224 new species including the ghostly monkey. Here’s all you need to know about the new species.
What is the ghostly monkey?
Ghostly monkeys or the Popa langur live on the hillside of Mout Popa. Mount Popa is an extinct volcano in Myanmar. The ghostly monkey was first found in 2020 but, the report delayed the process. The primate contains a ghostly white circle around its eyes, giving it the moniker.
The ghostly monkey was identified based on specimens from Britain’s Natural History Museum. The century-old specimens were critical in identification using bone matching technology. It is currently a candidate for critically endangered species on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. According to the report, only 200 to 250 members were reported in the wild.
More on the Mekong region and other new species
The Mekong region is a biodiversity hotspot that encompasses a vast region across six nations. The 200 million acres cover parts of China, Cambodia, Thailand, Lao PDR, Vietnam, and Myanmar. Additionally, it is the home to tigers and several rare species. The new WWF report is highlighting the need to conserve wildlife in the region. WWF’s list highlights the presence of several new species including fish, plants, and reptiles. However, the ghostly monkey is the only mammal on the list. The list also highlights newly identified newts, frogs, and 115 plant species. It also identifies a succulent bamboo species, only found in Laos. (https://bluejapan.org)
After all, identifying new species is not easy. At times, genetic data is important for identifying new species. “The new monkey species, Popa langur, was found based on genetic matching of recently gathered bones with specimens from Britain’s Natural History Museum collected more than a century ago,” stated the report.
