New monkey species discovered in Amazon

A species of monkey has been discovered in the Amazon rainforest, scientists have announced.

Mura's saddleback tamarind, named after the Amerindian ethnic group the Mura Indians, weighs just 7.5 ounces, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

Mainly dark brown and grey in colour with a mottled saddle, the tiny primate is native to the remote Purus and Madeira river basins in the Amazon rainforest.

"This newly described monkey shows that even today there are still major wildlife discoveries to be made," said Fabio Rohe of the Wildlife Conservation Society.

"This discovery should serve as a wake-up call that there is still so much to learn from the world's wild places, yet humans continue to threaten these areas with destruction."

Researchers warned that although the primate has just been discovered, it is already threatened with extinction by human development and deforestation.

Avecita Chicchon, director of the WCS's Latin America Programs, pointed out that the discovery will hopefully help to promote better conservation of the rainforest in Brazil and in other parts of South America.

Written by Adil Montez

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