 Though it was originally thought to be a member of the" Lophocebus" genus genetic data later placed it as its own separate genus "Rungwecebus".The kipunji is the first new monkey genus to be discovered since Allen's swamp monkey in 1923.The kipunji was independently discovered by researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society, the University of Georgia, and Conservation International, in December 2003 and July 2004, making it the first new African monkey species discovered since the sun-tailed monkey in 1984.