title: A new species of snub-nosed monkey, genus Rhinopithecus Milne-Edwards, 1872 (Primates, Colobinae), from northern Kachin state, northeastern Myanmar.
abstract: We describe a snub-nosed monkey that is new to science from the high altitudes of northeastern Kachin state, northeastern Myanmar, the Burmese snub-nosed monkey, Rhinopithecus strykeri sp. nov. Descriptions are based on a skin and skulls of four specimens obtained from local hunters. The new species is geographically isolated from other snub-nosed monkeys and separated from them by two major barriers--the Mekong and the Salween (Thanlwin) rivers. The species is chiefly diagnosed by its almost entirely blackish fur coloration with white fur only on ear tufts, chin beard, and perineal area, and its relatively long tail (140% of head and body length in the adult male). Preliminary surveys and interviews with hunters indicate that the new species is limited in distribution to the Maw River area, a small region of the Salween-N'mai Hka divide in northeastern Kachin state, northeastern Myanmar. The distribution area appears to cover about 270 km(2), and the species may consist of only three groups with a total population of approximately 260-330 individuals. Our data on hunting pressure suggest that the species is Critically Endangered.
authors.affiliation: Anthropological Institute, University Zürich-Irchel, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zürich, Switzerland. thomas.geissmann@aim.uzh.ch
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Geissmann
authors.forename: Ngwe
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lwin
authors.forename: Saw Soe
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Aung
authors.forename: Thet Naing
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Aung
authors.forename: Zin Myo
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Aung
authors.forename: Tony Htin
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Hla
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grindley
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Momberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D049628:Body Size; D016673:Colobinae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D056727:Endangered Species; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D008297:Male; D002052:Myanmar; D011156:Population Density; D014197:Trees