Lesula

{{Short description|Species of Old World monkey}}

{{Speciesbox

| name = Lesula monkey

| image = Cercopithecus lomamiensis (Lesula).png

| status = VU

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Detwiler, K.M. |author2=Hart, J.A. |date=2020 |title=Cercopithecus lomamiensis |volume=2020 |page=e.T92401376A92401776 |doi= 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T92401376A92401776.en |access-date=27 July 2022}}

| genus = Cercopithecus

| species = lomamiensis

| authority = Hart et al., 2012

| range_map =

| range_map_caption =

}}

The lesula (Cercopithecus lomamiensis) is a species of Old World monkey in the guenon genus Cercopithecus, found in the Lomami Basin of the Congo. Though known to locals, it was unknown to the international scientific community until it was discovered in 2007 and confirmed in a 2012 publication. The lesula is the second new species of African monkey to be discovered since 1984.{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/09/13/161097374/monkey-new-to-science-found-in-central-africa|agency=NPR|access-date=2012-10-21|date=2012-09-13|title=Monkey, New To Science, Found In Central Africa}} This monkey is described to have human looking eyes and a blue bottom{{cite journal | title=Lesula: A new species of Cercopithecus monkey endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo and implications for conservation of Congo's central basin | author=John A. Hart | author2=Kate M. Detwiler | author3=Christopher C. Gilbert| author4=Andrew S. Burrell | author5=James L. Fuller | author6=Maurice Emetshu | author7=Terese B. Hart | author8=Ashley Vosper | author9=Eric J. Sargis | author10=Anthony J. Tosi | name-list-style=amp | journal=PLOS ONE | year=2012 | volume=7 | issue=9 | pages=e44271 | doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0044271 | editor1-last=Turvey | editor1-first=Samuel T. | pmid=22984482 | pmc=3440422| bibcode=2012PLoSO...744271H | doi-access=free }}{{cite news |author=Ella Davies |date=September 13, 2012 |title=New monkey identified in Africa |publisher=BBC News |access-date=September 13, 2012 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19556915}} “And adult males have a huge bare patch of skin in the buttocks, testicles and perianal area,” said John A. Hart, the researcher who described the monkey. “It’s a brilliant blue, really pretty spectacular.”{{Cite news |date=September 13, 2012 |author=Bhanoo, Sindya N |title=A New Kind of Monkey, With Colors That Set It Apart |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/18/science/a-new-kind-of-monkey-with-colors-that-set-it-apart.html?_r=2 |access-date=5 November 2012 }}

The species was listed among the Top 10 New Species 2013 discovered in 2012 as selected by the International Institute for Species Exploration at Arizona State University out of more than 140 nominated species. Its distinctiveness is its human-like eyes, genital area and booming dawn chorus. The selection was declared on 22 May 2013.{{cite web |author=Newswise|title= Scientists Announce Top 10 New Species |date= 22 May 2013 |url= http://www.newswise.com/articles/scientists-announce-top-10-new-species| work= Arizona State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences |publisher=Newswise, Inc. |access-date=2013-05-23}}{{cite web |author= Arizona State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences |title= Top 10 new species of 2012|date= 22 May 2013 |url= https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130522163921.htm | work= ScienceDaily|publisher= ScienceDaily, LLC |access-date=2013-05-23}}