| Myanmar Snub-nosed Monkey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Information | |
| Common Name | Burmese Snub-nosed Monkey |
| Range | eastern Himalayas, in the north-eastern section of Kachin State, the northernmost part of Burma (Myanmar). In 2011, a population was discovered in Lushui County, Yunnan, China. |
| Scientific Classification | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Primates |
| Family | Cercopithecidae |
| Genus | Rhinopithecus |
| Species | Rhinopithecus strykeri |
| Conservation Status | |
 Critically Endangered | |
The Myanmar snub-nosed monkey or Burmese snub-nosed monkey, (Rhinopithecus strykeri), is a new species of snub-nosed monkey discovered in 2010 in northern Burma (Myanmar). It was formally described as a novel species of Primate in 2011 based on its fur, beard and tail. A group of the species was discovered in China in 2011.
The species is known in local dialects of Lisu people as mey nwoah and Law Waw people as myuk na tok te, both of which mean "monkey with an upturned face". Rain allegedly causes it to sneeze due to the short upturned nasal flesh around its nostrils. People from the area report that it sits with its head directed downwards, hiding its face between its knees when it rains.
Scientific Identification and Taxonomy
The species came to the attention of a team of scientists allied to the "Myanmar Primate Conservation Program" researching the status of the hoolock gibbon in early 2010. The team, led by Swiss primatologist Thomas Geissman and Ngwe Lwin of the Myanmar Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association (BANCA), were supported by Fauna & Flora International (FFI) and the People Resources and Conservation Foundation (PRCF). The specific name strykeri is given in honour of philanthropist Jon Stryker, president and founder of the Arcus Foundation, which also sponsored the project.