World Wildlife Fund (WWF) researchers have discovered a new species of monkey during their expeditions in an unexplored part of the Amazon in mid-western Brazil.
The newly found monkey, which is a type of Callicebus, or titi, was discovered between the Guariba River and the Roosevelt River in northwestern part of Mato Grosso, a state of Brazil known as a center of Amazon destruction.
"This primate has features on its head and tail that have never been observed before in other titi monkey species found in the same area," said biologist Julio Dalpone who discovered the monkey during the WWF's Nature-backed expedition.
The discovered species was taken to the Emilio Goeldi Museum of Para State to be studied and formally described, MSNBC reported.
"This incredible discovery shows just how much we still have to learn from the Amazon,” said director of WWF's Amazon Program Meg Symington.
“WWF has been working with the government of Brazil to increase protection and improve management for the Amazon so that species like this, and thousands of others, don't disappear before we even know about them," he added.
The 26-member team travelled the region for 20 days, gathering 48 species of mammals, including armadillos, anteaters, deer and monkeys, as well as 313 species of birds that were previously seen in other South American countries.
They also uncovered two possible new fish species; a catfish and a tetra as well as threatened species, including a giant anteater, giant armadillo, giant otter, jaguar and ocelot.
According to WWF, the area is exposed to environmental and social problems, including illegal deforestation and forest degradation, poaching, expansion of agriculture, lack of health or education services and electricity and illegal fishing.
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