Unveiling the Congo: 742 new species discovered in a decade
The WWF organization has just published a major report on new discoveries in the world of flora and fauna over the past decade. Researchers focused on the Congo River Basin, revealing that Central Africa still harbors animals and plants previously unknown to science.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the largest international organizations dedicated to animal conservation, has released this significant report highlighting discoveries in flora and fauna. Data was collected over more than 10 years (2013-2023) and reveals that the Congo Basin region in Central Africa is home to at least 742 new animal species.
What new animals and plants did researchers discover?
Research and observations were conducted in the Congo River Basin, which spans five countries: Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo. While some of the newly discovered specimens may have been known to local inhabitants for a long time, they are new to science. The WWF report includes a list of new species discovered and described by researchers worldwide. The data come from various expeditions, official and recognized scientific databases, and peer-reviewed scientific journals.
In the Congo River Basin, the following were discovered:
- 430 new species of plants: including new orchids, ferns from the Asplenium genus, species from the Begonia, Coffea, and Hibiscus genera, as well as flowering plant species from the Didelotia and Grangea genera.
- At least 140 new species of invertebrates: including ants, beetles, bedbugs, flies, mites, moths, spiders, worms, and a new species of firefly.
- 96 new species of fish: including barbs, perches, catfish, clingfish, electric fish, killifish, swamp eels, and tetras.
- 42 new species of reptiles: including a new species of crocodile, turtle, and many snakes.
- 22 new species of amphibians: all frogs.
- 10 new species of mammals: including a new species of monkey, four species of shrews, three mice, and two bats.
- 2 new species of birds: forest robin and owl.
The most interesting new species: slender-snouted crocodile, yellow viper, and Lesula monkey
Among all the new reptile species discovered, the Central African slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops leptorhynchus) stands out. Initially believed to be the same species as the West African crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus), research and detailed molecular sequencing revealed a new species that was "hiding in plain sight". Unfortunately, habitat loss and poaching impact both species, endangering the newly discovered crocodile.
Regarding snakes, scientists identified a new venomous snake species (Toxicodryas vexator) from the Colubridae family, found in Kahuzi-Biega National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Another intriguing discovery is a new species of arboreal snake - yellow bush viper (Atheris mongoensis) in the region near Mbandaka along the Congo River, also in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a head resembling a small dragon.
The WWF report also features a new mammal, a rare occurrence. Researchers identified a new species of Lesula monkey (Cercopithecus lomamiensis), residing in the dense rainforests of the central Democratic Republic of the Congo, within the protective forest landscape of Tshuapa – Lomami – Lualaba. As the authors of the WWF report note, the local population had known of this species, yet it remained undiscovered by the international scientific community. The Lesula was only the second new species of African monkey discovered since 1984, and in 2013, it gained recognition as one of the ten most important newly discovered species worldwide.
Scientists describe the Lesula monkey as having distinctive human-like eyes and blue coloring on its backside, along with a low "boom" sound echoing through the forest during communication. Unlike other monkey species, they are considered quiet and shy, usually living in small family groups of about five individuals. They spend their time calmly foraging for fruits and vegetation.
Unfortunately, the Congo Basin faces many threats, including deforestation, illegal hunting, wildlife trade, resource extraction, infrastructure development, and climate change. These factors significantly risk the survival of the newly discovered species and many other endemic species in this region.
As explained by WWF researchers in the report, discovering new species is vital for nature conservation as it helps us better understand and protect the life forms we share our planet with. A species without a name cannot be added to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The full report, "New Life in the Congo Basin: A Decade of Species Discoveries (2013-2023)," is available on the WWF website.
