{{Short description|Species of Old World monkey}} {{Speciesbox | name = Kipunji | image = Kipunji walking h.jpg | status = EN | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn |title=''Rungwecebus kipunji'' |author=Davenport, T. |date=2019 |article-number=e.T136791A17961368 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T136791A17961368.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref> | display_parents = 3 | genus = Rungwecebus | parent_authority = Davenport, 2006 | species = kipunji<ref name=Jones2005/><ref name=Science2006/> | authority = (Jones et al., 2005) | range_map = Kipunji area.png }}
The '''kipunji''' ('''''Rungwecebus kipunji'''''), also known as the '''highland mangabey''', is a species of Old World monkey that lives in the highland forests of Tanzania. It was independently described in December 2003 and July 2004, making it the first new African monkey species discovered since 1984.<ref name=Jones2005>{{cite journal |first1=T. |last1=Jones |author2=Ehardt, C. L. |author3=Butynski, T. M. |author4=Davenport, T. R. B. |author5=Mpunga, N. E. |author6=Machaga, S. J. |author7=De Luca, D. W. |year=2005 |title=The Highland Mangabey ''Lophocebus kipunji'': A New Species of African Monkey |journal=Science |volume=308 |issue=5725 |pages=1161–1164 |doi=10.1126/science.1109191 |pmid=15905399 |bibcode=2005Sci...308.1161J |s2cid=46580799}}</ref> Originally assigned to the genus ''Lophocebus'', genetic and morphological data showed that it is more closely related to the genus ''Papio''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Burrell |first1=A. S. |last2=Jolly |first2=C. J. |last3=Tosi |first3=A. J. |last4=Disotell |first4=T. R. |date=2009 |title=Mitochondrial evidence for the hybrid origin of the kipunji, ''Rungwecebus kipunji'' (Primates: Papionini) |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |volume=51 |issue=2 |pages=340–348 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2009.02.004 |pmid=19236932 |bibcode=2009MolPE..51..340B }}</ref> It was subsequently assigned to a new genus, '''''Rungwecebus''''', named after Mount Rungwe.<ref name=Science2006>{{cite journal |last1=Davenport |first1=T. R. B. |author2=Stanley, W. T. |author3=Sargis, E. J. |author4=De Luca, D. W. |author5=Mpunga, N. E. |author6=Machaga, S. J. |author7=Link E. Olson |year=2006 |title=A new genus of African monkey, ''Rungwecebus'': Morphology, Ecology, and Molecular Phylogenetics |journal=Science |doi=10.1126/science.1125631 |volume=312 |pages=1378–1381 |pmid=16690815 |issue=5778 |bibcode=2006Sci...312.1378D|s2cid=38690218 |doi-access=free}}</ref> ''Rungwecebus'' is the first new monkey genus described since 1923.<ref>{{cite web |first=K. |last=Than |title=Scientists Discover New Monkey Genus In Africa |date=2006 |work=LiveScience |url=https://www.livescience.com/animals/060511_monkey_genus.html |access-date=2008-07-24}}</ref>
==Description== The kipunji's relatively long pelage is light or medium brown with white on the end of the tail and the ventrum. The pelage close to the hands and feet tends to be a medium to dark brown. Its hands, feet, and face are all black. It does not appear to show any sexual dimorphism in relation to pelage coloration. Adult male kipunjis have a body length of {{cvt|85-90|cm}} and are estimated to weigh between {{cvt|10|and|16|kg}}.<ref name=Jones2005/><ref name=Science2006/>
The kipunji has a distinctive territorial call — a low-pitched "honk-bark." Its nearest relatives are said to make a very different sound, "whoop-gobbles."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Morris |first=Desmon |title=Monkey |publisher=Reaktion |year=2013 |location=London |pages=159-160}}</ref>
The kipunji's pelage coloration and its broad crest of hair on the crown of its head helps to distinguish it from ''Cercocebus'' and ''Lophocebus''.<ref name=Science2006/>
==Distribution and habitat== Around 1,800 individuals live in mountainside trees in Tanzania. A census published in 2022 found 59 groups in Livingstone Forest (within Kitulo National Park), Mount Rungwe Nature Reserve, and Madehani Village Forest.<ref>Davenport Tim R B, et al. (Apr 2022). "A Reassessment of the Population Size, Demography, and Status of Tanzania’s Endemic Kipunji Rungwecebus kipunji 13 Years on: Demonstrating Conservation Success." ''International Journal of Primatology''; New York Vol. 43, Iss. 2, : 317-338. DOI:10.1007/s10764-022-00281-3</ref>
The forest at Rungwe is highly degraded, and fragmentation of the remaining forest threatens to split that population into three smaller populations. The Ndundulu forest is in better shape, but the population there is smaller.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-16 |title=Kipunji, Rungwecebus kipunji {{!}} New England Primate Conservancy |url=https://neprimateconservancy.org/kipunji/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=neprimateconservancy.org |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Conservation== The kipunji is classified as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List.<ref name=iucn/> It was included in the list of "The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates" in 2006 and 2008.<ref name="2008-2010Top25">{{cite book |editor1-last=Mittermeier |editor1-first=R.A. |editor1-link=Russell Mittermeier |editor2-last=Wallis |editor2-first=J. |editor3-last=Rylands |editor3-first=A.B. |editor4-last=Ganzhorn |editor4-first=J.U. |editor5-last=Oates |editor5-first=J.F. |editor6-last=Williamson |editor6-first=E.A. |editor7-last=Palacios |editor7-first=E. |editor8-last=Heymann |editor8-first=E.W. |editor9-last=Kierulff |editor9-first=M.C.M. |editor10-first=Long |editor10-last=Yongcheng |editor11-last=Supriatna |editor11-first=J. |editor12-last=Roos |editor12-first=C. |editor13-last=Walker |editor13-first=S. |editor14-last=Cortés-Ortiz |editor14-first=L. |editor15-last=Schwitzer |editor15-first=C. |year=2009 |title=Primates in Peril: The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates 2008–2010 |publisher=IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group (PSG), International Primatological Society (IPS), and Conservation International (CI) |location=Arlington, VA. |pages=1–92 |isbn=978-1-934151-34-1 |url=http://www.primate-sg.org/PDF/Primates.in.Peril.2008-2010.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-23 |access-date=2014-02-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723172932/http://www.primate-sg.org/PDF/Primates.in.Peril.2008-2010.pdf}}</ref>
Its range is restricted to {{cvt|17.7|km2}} of forest in the two isolated regions, the Ndundulu forest and the Rungwe-Livingstone forest.<ref>{{cite news |title=Newly Discovered Monkey Is Threatened with Extinction |url=https://newswise.com/articles/view/542963/ |work=Newswise |access-date=2008-07-28}}</ref>
To combat the endangered status of the Kipunji, efforts to protect the species are significantly enhanced when local commutes surrounding their habitat are aware of their significance and are actively engaged in protecting them. Due to recent conservation efforts, as of 2022, the Kipunji population has increased by 65% and threats due to human activity have decreased by 81%.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1007/s10745-025-00576-y |title=Determinants of Community Awareness Regarding the Endangered ''Rungwecebus kipunji'' in Tanzania |date=2025 |last1=Mbise |first1=F. P. | journal=Human Ecology |pages=199–205 |volume=53 |issue=1 |bibcode=2025HumEc..53..199M }}</ref>
== Threats == The kipunji faces multiple threats, primarily stemming from human activities such as logging, charcoal making, illegal hunting, and unmanaged resource extraction have been commonplace in the Rungwe-Kitulo forests, leading to habitat fragmentation and degradation. The narrow corridors linking different forest sections are encroached by farmers, further exacerbating the fragmentation of population units. Kipunjis are hunted using log traps and dogs, mainly during January to April in retribution for crop-raiding incidents. Both Kilombero Nature Forest Reserve and Mount Rungwe Nature Reserves lack adequate management resources to counter these threats.<ref name=iucn/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20051019001837/http://www.wcs.org/international/Africa/Tanzania/highlandmangabey WCS profile of Highland Mangabey] *[https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=104165&org=NSF National Science Foundation press release] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20051026235216/http://www.wcs.org/media/file/Highlandmangabeycall.wav Highland Mangabey's honk-bark] (in .WAV format) *[https://web.archive.org/web/20051026235643/http://www.wcs.org/media/file/Highlandmangabeyvideo.mpg Video of Highland Mangabey] (in MPEG format) *[https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=944207 ITIS Report: Rungwecebus kipunji]
{{C.Cercopithecinae nav}} {{Haplorhini|C.}} {{Taxonbar|from1=Q13123201|from2=Q155399}}
Category:Papionini Category:Primates of Africa Category:Endemic fauna of Tanzania Category:Mammals of Tanzania Category:Critically endangered fauna of Africa Category:Mammals described in 2005