To conserve African tropical forests, invest in the protection of its most endangered group of monkeys, red colobus

Forest loss and overhunting are eroding African tropical biodiversity and threatening local human food security, livelihoods, and health. Emblematic of this ecological crisis is Africa's most endangered group of monkeys, the red colobus (genus Piliocolobus). All 17 species, found in forests from Senegal in the west to the Zanzibar archipelago in the east, are threatened with extinction. Red colobus are among the most vulnerable mammals to gun hunting, typically disappearing from heavily hunted forests before most other large-bodied animals. Despite their conservation status, they are rarely a focus of conservation attention and continue to be understudied. However, red colobus can act as critical barometers of forest health and serve as flagships for catalyzing broader African tropical forest conservation efforts. We offer a plan for conservation of red colobus and their habitats and discuss conservation and policy implications.Additional authors: Deo Kujirakwinja, Barney Long, W. Scott McGraw, Russell A. Mittermeier, Thomas T. Struhsake

Dendrohyrax dorsalis dorsalis (Fraser

Dendrohyrax dorsalis dorsalis (Fraser, 1854) (N = 7) Equatorial Guinea. Bioko: 3°30′N, 8°41′E (NHMUK 3.1.6.3, 4.7.1.119, 4.7.1.121, 4.7.1.123, 4.7.1.124, 55.12.26.183, 58.5.3.1).Published as part of Oates, John F, Woodman, Neal, Gaubert, Philippe, Sargis, Eric J, Wiafe, Edward D, Lecompte, Emilie, Dowsett-Lemaire, Françoise, Dowsett, Robert J, Gonedelé Bi, Sery, Ikemeh, Rachel A, Djagoun, Chabi A M S, Tomsett, Louise & Bearder, Simon K, 2022, A new species of tree hyrax (Procaviidae: Dendrohyrax) from West Africa and the significance of the Niger-Volta interfluvium in mammalian biogeography, pp. 527-552 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 194 (2) on page 552, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab029, http://zenodo.org/record/635210

Dendrohyrax dorsalis subsp. emini Thomas 1887

Dendrohyrax dorsalis emini (Thomas, 1887) Democratic Republic of Congo. Bili: 04°10′N, 25°11′E (T.B., 2001) (N = 29). Ituri Forest, Basakwe: 1°35′N, 28°25′E (J.O., 1993) (N = 1).Published as part of Oates, John F, Woodman, Neal, Gaubert, Philippe, Sargis, Eric J, Wiafe, Edward D, Lecompte, Emilie, Dowsett-Lemaire, Françoise, Dowsett, Robert J, Gonedelé Bi, Sery, Ikemeh, Rachel A, Djagoun, Chabi A M S, Tomsett, Louise & Bearder, Simon K, 2022, A new species of tree hyrax (Procaviidae: Dendrohyrax) from West Africa and the significance of the Niger-Volta interfluvium in mammalian biogeography, pp. 527-552 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 194 (2) on page 551, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab029, http://zenodo.org/record/635210

Dendrohyrax dorsalis subsp. nigricans

Dendrohyrax dorsalis nigricans (Peters, 1879) Nigeria. Cross River State: Iko Esai: 5°41′N, 8°16′E (S.B., J.O., 2009) (N = 24). Cameroon. Korup National Park: 5°13′N, 8°58′E (P.H., S.B., 1991; C.A., 2014) (N = 33). Mt. Cameroon: 4°06′N, 9°08′E (L.A., 1996; C.C., 1974) (N = 14). Bakossi Mts.: 4°48′N, 9°42′E (C.W., 1997) (N = 1). Mt. Kupe: 4°49′N, 9°43′E (S.B., A.D., A.P., L.A., 1997) (N = 22). Douala outskirts: 4°02′N, 9°47′E (C.C., 1970) (N = 1). Kribi: 2°56′N, 2°35′W (C.C., 1971) (N = 1). Minwo Forest: 3°20′N, 10°46′E (A.P., L.A., 1997) (N = 3). Ebom: 3°17′N, 11°03′E (A.P., L.A., 1997) (N = 15). Dja: 3°06′N, 13°0′E (L.A., 1996) (N = 12). Congo Republic. Dimonika, Mayombe: 4°13′S, 12°26′E (F.D. -L., 1989) (N = 1). Gabon. Makokou: 0°30′N, 12°50′E (C.C., 1970, 1972; L.A., 1993) (N = 16).Published as part of Oates, John F, Woodman, Neal, Gaubert, Philippe, Sargis, Eric J, Wiafe, Edward D, Lecompte, Emilie, Dowsett-Lemaire, Françoise, Dowsett, Robert J, Gonedelé Bi, Sery, Ikemeh, Rachel A, Djagoun, Chabi A M S, Tomsett, Louise & Bearder, Simon K, 2022, A new species of tree hyrax (Procaviidae: Dendrohyrax) from West Africa and the significance of the Niger-Volta interfluvium in mammalian biogeography, pp. 527-552 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 194 (2) on page 551, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab029, http://zenodo.org/record/635210

Dendrohyrax dorsalis subsp. sylvestris

Dendrohyrax dorsalis sylvestris (Temminck, 1855) (N = 12) Western population (N = 2). Liberia. Nimba County: Mt. Nimba: 7°04′N, 8°25′W (NHMUK 70.76). Western Rivercess County: 5°53′N, 9°14′W (RMCA 35862). Eastern population (N = 10). Côte d’Ivoire. Adiopodoumé: 5°20′N, 4°08′W (AMNH M-239584). Ghana. Western Province: Papasi: 6°35′N, 2°55′W (NHMUK 76.1782). Ashanti Province: Mampong: 7°03′N, 1°25′W (NHMUK 35.10.22.152, 35.10.22.153). Eastern Province: Oda: 5°56′N, 1°01′W (NHMUK 46.481; MCZ 42709; FMNH 54448, 54679, 54681, 62807).Published as part of Oates, John F, Woodman, Neal, Gaubert, Philippe, Sargis, Eric J, Wiafe, Edward D, Lecompte, Emilie, Dowsett-Lemaire, Françoise, Dowsett, Robert J, Gonedelé Bi, Sery, Ikemeh, Rachel A, Djagoun, Chabi A M S, Tomsett, Louise & Bearder, Simon K, 2022, A new species of tree hyrax (Procaviidae: Dendrohyrax) from West Africa and the significance of the Niger-Volta interfluvium in mammalian biogeography, pp. 527-552 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 194 (2) on page 551, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab029, http://zenodo.org/record/635210

Dendrohyrax dorsalis Fraser 1851

Dendrohyrax dorsalis dorsalis (Fraser, 1854) Equatorial Guinea, Bioko. Moka: 3°20′N, 8°40′E (A.P., L.A., 1997) (N = 2). Gran Caldera de Luba: 3°21′N, 8°31′E (D.S., T.B., 1990) (N = 10).Published as part of Oates, John F, Woodman, Neal, Gaubert, Philippe, Sargis, Eric J, Wiafe, Edward D, Lecompte, Emilie, Dowsett-Lemaire, Françoise, Dowsett, Robert J, Gonedelé Bi, Sery, Ikemeh, Rachel A, Djagoun, Chabi A M S, Tomsett, Louise & Bearder, Simon K, 2022, A new species of tree hyrax (Procaviidae: Dendrohyrax) from West Africa and the significance of the Niger-Volta interfluvium in mammalian biogeography, pp. 527-552 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 194 (2) on page 551, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab029, http://zenodo.org/record/635210

Dendrohyrax interfluvialis Oates & Woodman & Gaubert & Sargis & Wiafe & Lecompte & Dowsett-Lemaire & Dowsett & Gonedelé Bi & Ikemeh & Djagoun & Tomsett & Bearder 2022

Dendrohyrax interfluvialis (N = 4) Nigeria. Ogun State: Ilaro Forest Reserve: 6°47 ′ N, 3°04 ′ E (NHMUK 46.360, holotype). Oyo State: Ibadan: 7°30 ′ N, 3°53 ′ E (NHMUK 61.461). Bayelsa State: Uzere: 5°20 ′ N, 6°13 ′ E (NHMUK 1998.300). Edo State: Sapoba Forest Reserve: 6°05 ′ N, 5°49 ′ E (USNM 377548).Published as part of Oates, John F, Woodman, Neal, Gaubert, Philippe, Sargis, Eric J, Wiafe, Edward D, Lecompte, Emilie, Dowsett-Lemaire, Françoise, Dowsett, Robert J, Gonedelé Bi, Sery, Ikemeh, Rachel A, Djagoun, Chabi A M S, Tomsett, Louise & Bearder, Simon K, 2022, A new species of tree hyrax (Procaviidae: Dendrohyrax) from West Africa and the significance of the Niger-Volta interfluvium in mammalian biogeography, pp. 527-552 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 194 (2) on page 552, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab029, http://zenodo.org/record/635210

Dendrohyrax dorsalis subsp. latrator

Dendrohyrax dorsalis latrator (Thomas, 1910) Democratic Republic of Congo. Lokutu: 01°09′N, 23°37′E (T.B., 2001) (N = 2).Published as part of Oates, John F, Woodman, Neal, Gaubert, Philippe, Sargis, Eric J, Wiafe, Edward D, Lecompte, Emilie, Dowsett-Lemaire, Françoise, Dowsett, Robert J, Gonedelé Bi, Sery, Ikemeh, Rachel A, Djagoun, Chabi A M S, Tomsett, Louise & Bearder, Simon K, 2022, A new species of tree hyrax (Procaviidae: Dendrohyrax) from West Africa and the significance of the Niger-Volta interfluvium in mammalian biogeography, pp. 527-552 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 194 (2) on page 551, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab029, http://zenodo.org/record/635210

Dendrohyrax dorsalis subsp. latrator

Dendrohyrax dorsalis latrator (Thomas, 1910) (N = 11) Democratic Republic of Congo. Bikoro, Lac Tumba: 0°44′S, 18°08′E (RMCA 22114). North of Boende, Tshuapa: 0°10′S, 20°53′E (FMNH 219683). Bumba Zone, Yalosemba: 2°35′N, 21°47′E (USNM 537894). Amadjabe: 0°04′S, 25°17′E (RMCA 89023 M24, 89023M 32, 89023M34, 89023M37, 89023M 38, 89023M47, 89023M48). Bomboma, Bombolo: 2°05′S, 20°55′E (NHMUK 12.7.26.12).Published as part of Oates, John F, Woodman, Neal, Gaubert, Philippe, Sargis, Eric J, Wiafe, Edward D, Lecompte, Emilie, Dowsett-Lemaire, Françoise, Dowsett, Robert J, Gonedelé Bi, Sery, Ikemeh, Rachel A, Djagoun, Chabi A M S, Tomsett, Louise & Bearder, Simon K, 2022, A new species of tree hyrax (Procaviidae: Dendrohyrax) from West Africa and the significance of the Niger-Volta interfluvium in mammalian biogeography, pp. 527-552 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 194 (2) on page 552, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab029, http://zenodo.org/record/635210

Tropical field stations yield high conservation return on investment

Conservation funding is currently limited; cost-effective conservation solutions are essential. We suggest that the thousands of field stations worldwide can play key roles at the frontline of biodiversity conservation and have high intrinsic value. We assessed field stations’ conservation return on investment and explored the impact of COVID-19. We surveyed leaders of field stations across tropical regions that host primate research; 157 field stations in 56 countries responded. Respondents reported improved habitat quality and reduced hunting rates at over 80% of field stations and lower operational costs per km2 than protected areas, yet half of those surveyed have less funding now than in 2019. Spatial analyses support field station presence as reducing deforestation. These ‘earth observatories’ provide a high return on investment; we advocate for increased support of field station programs and for governments to support their vital conservation efforts by investing accordingly