UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Central African monkey with striking patch is new species
Q1. In the context of primates such as the colobus, the term 'folivorous' denotes a diet consisting predominantly of:
- A. Leaves
- B. Fruits
- C. Insects and grubs
- D. Seeds and hard nuts
Q2. With reference to the taxonomic placement of colobus monkeys, consider the following statements:
1. They belong to the family Cercopithecidae, i.e. the Old World monkeys.
2. Unlike many New World monkeys, Old World monkeys such as the colobus lack a prehensile tail.
3. Colobus monkeys are distinguished from other Old World monkeys by an unusually well-developed, elongated thumb.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- They belong to the family Cercopithecidae, i.e. the Old World monkeys.
- Unlike many New World monkeys, Old World monkeys such as the colobus lack a prehensile tail.
- Colobus monkeys are distinguished from other Old World monkeys by an unusually well-developed, elongated thumb.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. Lomami National Park, from which the new colobus species was described, is best characterised as:
- A. A protected area situated entirely within the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- B. A transboundary park always jointly administered by the DRC and the Republic of Congo
- C. A UNESCO World Heritage Site lying wholly within Cameroon
- D. A marine protected area exclusively along the Atlantic coast of Gabon
Q4. The Congo Basin rainforest, within which Lomami National Park is located, extends across how many countries?
- A. Four
- B. Five
- C. Six
- D. Seven
Q5. With reference to the discovery and confirmation of the Likweli (Colobus congoensis), consider the following statements:
1. It was first photographed in Lomami National Park in 2008.
2. Its status as a distinct species was confirmed through genetic testing and field studies conducted between 2018 and 2022.
3. It was described exclusively on the basis of external morphology, with no genetic analysis involved.
4. It was first identified in a zoo outside Africa before being traced back to the wild.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- It was first photographed in Lomami National Park in 2008.
- Its status as a distinct species was confirmed through genetic testing and field studies conducted between 2018 and 2022.
- It was described exclusively on the basis of external morphology, with no genetic analysis involved.
- It was first identified in a zoo outside Africa before being traced back to the wild.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1, 2 and 3
- C. 2 and 4 only
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q6. The IUCN Red List (Categories and Criteria, Version 3.1) classifies assessed species into how many categories?
- A. Seven
- B. Eight
- C. Nine
- D. Eleven
Q7. Among the IUCN Red List categories applied to species still surviving in the wild, which one represents the HIGHEST level of extinction risk?
- A. Critically Endangered
- B. Endangered
- C. Vulnerable
- D. Near Threatened
Q8. Consider the following features attributed to the Likweli (Colobus congoensis):
1. A small, largely black body.
2. An orange-cream coloured patch around the mouth.
3. A white patch located under the tail.
4. A long prehensile tail used to grasp branches.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as a feature of the species?
- A small, largely black body.
- An orange-cream coloured patch around the mouth.
- A white patch located under the tail.
- A long prehensile tail used to grasp branches.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 2 and 4 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q9. The Likweli was first photographed in Lomami National Park in 2008, and studies confirming it as a distinct species concluded in 2022. How many years separated the first photograph from the conclusion of the confirmation studies?
- A. Ten years
- B. Twelve years
- C. Fourteen years
- D. Sixteen years