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The explanation of 'mystery monkey' found in Sabah, Malaysia

The explanation of 'mystery monkey' found in Sabah, Malaysia
illustration © Terra Mater Studio

An international team of scientists has discovered evidence that Malaysia's "mystery monkey" is a cross between a proboscis monkey and a silvery langur. The group outlines their research of photographs of the monkey and how they arrived at their conclusion regarding its origins in an article published in the International Journal of Primatology.


In 2017, scientists in Borneo started receiving tales of a mysterious monkey living in Malaysian Borneo's woodlands near the Kinabatangan River. The monkey was thought to be a youngster at the time. Suspecting interspecies mating, the researchers started looking for mentions of the monkey on social media platforms, gathering images of the animal as they went. Unfortunately, because of pandemic limitations, they were unable to enter the woodland to investigate. Instead, they investigated the images they could receive.

The researchers noticed that the monkey was living in the same region as proboscis monkeys and silvery langurs. Proboscis monkeys are distinguished by their huge bulbous noses and pink features. The silvery langur, sometimes known as the silvered leaf monkey, is a lesser-known species. It has a dark face and a considerably smaller nose. The two monkey species are closely related yet vastly different in size. The proboscis may grow to 76 cm in length and weigh 20 to 24 kg on average. The langur, on the other hand, grows to about 56 cm in length and weighs around 6.6 kg.

The researchers discovered that the mystery monkey had a bulbous nose, but it was not quite as big as is typical for the proboscis. She also had an unusually colored face that was neither pink nor black, but rather ashy. Despite these distinctions, the researchers believe the mystery monkey is a hybrid between a male proboscis and a female langur. More shocking, she seems to have had children—in one shot, she is holding a newborn, and her breasts look engorged, implying she is the kid's mother. The majority of crossbred children are infertile.

According to the researchers, the crossbred monkey resulted from the two monkey populations being squeezed into ever-smaller habitats owing to oil plantation growth.

Source: phys.com

Akhyari Hananto

I began my career in the banking industry in 1997, and stayed approx 6 years in it. This industry boost his knowledge about the economic condition in Indonesia, both macro and micro, and how to More understand it. My banking career continued in Yogyakarta when I joined in a program funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB),as the coordinator for a program aimed to help improve the quality of learning and teaching process in private universities in Yogyakarta. When the earthquake stroke Yogyakarta, I chose to join an international NGO working in the area of ?disaster response and management, which allows me to help rebuild the city, as well as other disaster-stricken area in Indonesia. I went on to become the coordinator for emergency response in the Asia Pacific region. Then I was assigned for 1 year in Cambodia, as a country coordinator mostly to deliver developmental programs (water and sanitation, education, livelihood). In 2009, he continued his career as a protocol and HR officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya, and two years later I joined the Political and Economic Section until now, where i have to deal with extensive range of people and government officials, as well as private and government institution troughout eastern Indonesia. I am the founder and Editor-in-Chief in Good News From Indonesia (GNFI), a growing and influential social media movement, and was selected as one of The Most Influential Netizen 2011 by The Marketeers magazine. I also wrote a book on "Fundamentals of Disaster Management in 2007"?, "Good News From Indonesia : Beragam Prestasi Anak Bangsa di dunia"? which was luanched in August 2013, and "Indonesia Bersyukur"? which is launched in Sept 2013. In 2014, 3 books were released in which i was one of the writer; "Indonesia Pelangi Dunia"?, "Indonesia The Untold Stories"? and "Growing! Meretas Jalan Kejayaan" I give lectures to students in lectures nationwide, sharing on full range of issues, from economy, to diplomacy Less
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