Highland Mangabey

Crowned eagles (Stephanoaetus coronatus) are common predators and leopards (Panthera pardus) are possible predators. Rungwecebus kipunji is often hunted by humans because of their crop raiding habits and for food (Davenport et al., 2006).

Known Predators:

• crowned eagles (Stephanoaetus coronatus)

Adult males are estimated to be 85 to 90 cm in length, excluding the tail. The tail has smooth pelage, is longer than the body, and is usually curled up and backward. An average adult male is estimated to have a weight between 10 and 16 kg. Sexual dimorphism is not apparent when observing the pelage color of adults. Overall, the pelage is relatively long, which may be an adaptation to the cold temperatures of the Rungwe-Livingstone forest. The dorsum is light to medium brown in color, whereas the center of the ventrum is off-white. Half of the tail is off-white as well, on the terminal end. The lower forelimbs are dark brown to black and the hands and feet are black. One distinguishing characteristic is the long, broad crest of hair along the crown of the head. The eyes are brown, but the eyelids are black along with the rest of the face. The muzzle is relatively long with elongated cheek whiskers. Rungwecebus kipunji is distinguished from mangabeys (Cercocebus and Lophocebus) by different coloration, a crest on the crown of its head, the off-white colored tail and ventrum, and its loud distinct call, referred to as a ‘honk-bark’ (Davenport, 2005; Davenport et al., 2006; Jones et al., 2005).

Range mass: 10 to 16 kg.

Range length: 85 to 90 cm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike

There is no information on the approximate lifespan of R. kipunji. Although, to give an estimate of the general range of possibilities for lifespan, Papio and Theropithecus have been known to reach ages of 20 and 45 years (Nowak, 1991; van Hooff, 1990).

The Ndundulu forest is submontane, whereas the Rungwe-Livingstone forest is upper montane with temperatures dropping to –3°C or colder from May through September (Davenport, 2005; Jones et al., 2005). Rungwecebus kipunji is primarily arboreal, only occasionally descending to feed or evade intragroup conflict or predators (Davenport et al., 2006). In the Rungwe-Livingstone forest, kipunji are found at elevations ranging from 1750 to 2450 meters and in the Ndundulu Forest Reserve, they are found between 1300 and 1750 meters (Davenport, 2005; Davenport et al., 2006; Jones et al., 2005). Rungwe-Livingstone forest is severely degraded with just a narrow strip of trees connecting the forests of Mounts Rungwe and Livingstone.

Range elevation: 1300 to 2450 m.

Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest

Until recently, Lophecebus kipunji was the name assigned to this newly discovered monkey. This changed with the publication of an article in Science (Davenport et al., 2006), calling for a new genus, Rungwecebus, which is the first new genus of living monkey described in 79 years. This taxonomic change is based on molecular and morphological data, placing kipunji genetically most closely related to Papio, but too morphologically dissimilar to be included within that genus. Although genetically similar, kipunji has a smaller body size and is more arboreal than Papio and Theropithecus. The current phylogenetic description places kipunji most closely related to Papio and Theropithecus with Lophocebus being sister to these taxa (Davenport et al., 2006).

Kipunji have been described as very vocal, with a unique call referred to as a ‘honk-bark’ (Beckman, 2005; Davenport, et al., 2006; Jones et al., 2005). Visual, chemical, and tactile forms of communication, such as grooming, are common among most primates, and therefore are probably used by R. kipunji as well (Simonds, 1974).

Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical

Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical

Assessment for the IUCN Red List has yet to be completed, but Rungwecebus kipunji will likely be listed as “critically endangered.” Logging, hunting/poaching, charcoal-making, and unmanaged resource extraction are all known threats to this species. The narrow Bujingijila Corridor, which links the forests of Mount Rungwe and Livingstone, is severely degraded. If no action is taken, it is likely the two forests will become separated. The population of R. kipunji in the Rungwe-Livingstone area is currently estimated to consist of 500 to 1000 individuals. The Ndundulu population is estimated at less than 500 individuals (Davenport et al., 2006).

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: critically endangered

Kipunji are known to raid farm crops (Davenport et al., 2006). Nonhuman primates can be a disease vector, creating a potential threat to human health (Daszak et al., 2000).

Negative Impacts: crop pest

Residents of the Rungwe District have been known to occasionally eat kipunji (Davenport et al., 2006).

Positive Impacts: food

Kipunjis likely aid the reproductive success of some plants by distributing seeds via fruit consumption. It is possible that leopards and crowned eagles could be negatively impacted if kipunji were not a diet component. In the Rungwe-Livingstone forest, groups of R. kipunji have been observed in association with Angolan colobus (Colobus angolensis), and blue monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis), which can be beneficial in evading predators and improving foraging success (Davenport et al., 2006).

Rungwecebus kipunji is omnivorous, eating a variety of foods, including young and mature leaves, shoots, flowers, bark, ripe and unripe fruits, lichen, moss, invertebrates, and farm crops (e.g. maize, beans, and sweet potato) (Davenport et al., 2006).

Animal Foods: insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods

Plant Foods: leaves; wood, bark, or stems; seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit; flowers; bryophytes; lichens

Primary Diet: omnivore

Rungwecebus kipunji (common name: kipunji) is endemic to Tanzania. It is found in both the Rungwe-Livingstone forest in the Southern Highlands and the Ndundulu Forest Reserve of southwest Tanzania (Davenport et al., 2006). It inhabits approximately 70 square kilometers in the Rungwe-Livingstone forest and approximately three square kilometers in the Ndundulu Forest Reserve (Davenport et al., 2006; Jones, 2005).

Biogeographic Regions: ethiopian (Native )

Currently, information on the reproductive behavior of R. kipunji is limited. Genital swelling has been observed, which is characteristic of other female monkeys in oestrus as a means of communicating the fertility of a female to potential mates (Davenport et al., 2006; Loy, 1987).

Although there is limited information on kipunjis, two of their close relatives, geladas Theropithecus and baboons Papio, may share similar reproductive behaviors. Considering their close phylogenetic relationship to these species, it is likely kipunji have similar reproductive characteristics. Theropithecus and Papio average one offspring per pregnancy and twinning in general is rare among monkeys (Altmann, 1970; Nowak, 1991; Simonds, 1987; van Hooff, 1990). The gestation period in these taxa is about 180 days (van Hooff, 1990). Sexual maturity is reached around five years of age for Papio and at 3.5 years for females and eight years for males among Theropithecus (Nowak, 1991; van Hooff, 1990).

Breeding interval: Kipunji breeding intervals are unknown.

Breeding season: Breeding seasonality in kipunjis is unknown.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous

A great deal of parental investment is characteristic of primates and the mother is generally the primary caregiver, so it is likely Rungwecebus kipunji shares these behaviors (McKenna, 1982; Simonds, 1974).

Parental Investment: altricial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-independence (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female)

With this species only recently discovered, there has been very little chance to study its biology. Oestrus females of this monkey have been observed with genital swellings (1).

The kipunji occurs in the Kitulo National Park on Mount Rungwe, which should help protect the small Livingstone Forest population there, but swift action is needed to also preserve the connecting forest corridors. Although the forests of Ndundulu are in excellent condition, the population is small and outside of the Udzungwa Mountains National Park, in the adjacent, unprotected Ndundulu Forest Reserve. This has prompted calls for the area to be better protected by expanding the boundaries of Udzungwa Mountains National Park westward to include all of the Ndundulu Forest (1). Indeed, the Udzungwa Mountains represent an amazing biodiversity 'hotspot', and this incredible discovery of a third threatened monkey species affirms its status as one of the most important regions for primate conservation in Africa (4). One can only hope that the excitement and publicity of new scientific finds such as this will highlight the need to increase our conservation efforts. Without prompt action the future of this rare and remarkable monkey remains highly uncertain (3) (4).

The remarkable discovery of Tanzania's kipunji in 2003 and 2004 (by two independent research teams) represented Africa's first new monkey discovery in 20 years (3) (4). This medium sized, long-tailed monkey has a long, upright chest, loud call and unique coat. The fur is a light to rufous brown, with darker lower forelimbs, black hands and feet, and an off-white stomach and tail end. Elongated cheek whiskers and a crest of long, erect hair on the crown frame the black face (1). The species' characteristically long coat is thought to be an adaptation to withstand the cold in the upper altitudes of its range (3). One of the features that established this monkey as a distinct species is its unique and distinctive call, described as a loud, low-pitched 'honk-bark', which is very different to that of other monkeys (1). Although initially named the highland mangabey, having been classified as a mangabey (Lophocebus) from analysis of photographs, recent genetic and morphological tests on a dead animal revealed that the species belongs to a new genus (Rungwecebus), and is in fact more closely related to the baboon than to mangabeys (2). As such, the species is now referred to simply as kipunji.

This arboreal species is found in degraded montane and upper montane forest in Rungwe-Livingstone and pristine submontane forest in Ndundulu (1).

Endemic to southern Tanzania. Populations exist in Mount Rungwe and Mount Livingstone (often referred to as Rungwe-Livingstone) in the Southern Highlands, from 1750 to 2450 m above sea level, and 350 km away in Ndundulu in the Udzungwa Mountains, from 1300 to 1750 m above sea level (1).

The kipunji has not yet been classified by the IUCN.

The threats to the kipunji are considerable and, with an estimated population of between just 500 and 1000 individuals, the future of this newly-discovered species is already in jeopardy (1) (3). Logging, charcoal-making, hunting and unmanaged resource extraction are common in the Rungwe-Livingstone forests (1) (3). The narrow forest corridors linking Mt Rungwe to Livingstone, and joining the northern and southern sections of Livingstone, are all highly degraded. Fragmentation of the remaining forests threatens to split the population into three smaller, isolated subpopulations (3). As a result, this newly-discovered monkey is thought likely to be classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. While the monkey's total known range at Rungwe-Livingstone is around 70 km², at Ndundulu it is just 3 km² (1). The kipunji is one of the three threatened monkey species identified in the Udzungwa Mountains, a testament to the biologically rich but fragile ecosystems of the region (4).

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. The kipunji has a unique call, described as a 'honk-bark', which distinguishes it from its relatives, the grey-cheeked mangabey and the black crested mangabey, whose calls are described as 'whoop-gobbles'.

The kipunji was independently discovered by researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society, the University of Georgia, and Conservation International, in December 2003 and July 2004, making it the first new African monkey species discovered since the sun-tailed monkey in 1984. Originally assigned to the genus Lophocebus, genetic and morphological data showed that it is more closely related to the baboons (genus Papio) than to the other mangabeys in the genus Lophocebus. Scientists subsequently assigned it to a new genus, Rungwecebus, named after Mount Rungwe, where it is found. The kipunji is the first new monkey genus to be discovered since Allen's swamp monkey in 1923.

Zoologists were initially skeptical of the existence of the kipunji until its discovery, as traditional tales of the Nyakyusa people described the monkey as both real and mythical.