Harold Anthony first described the Jamaican monkey from a lower jaw and femur bone he found in Long Mile Cave in Jamaica in 1920. He speculated that it was an introduced species. His discovery was stored in the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, and wasn't studied again until 1952. There is very little known about the Jamaican monkey since it probably went extinct sometime in the mid-1700's. There has been much speculation over the years about the Jamaican monkey and where it fits in the monkey family group. Some have speculated it was slow moving like a loris or even more rodent like its appearance. DNA testing in 2018 seems to indicate that its closest living relative is the titi monkey. No one knows exactly what caused the extinction of this monkey, but it is thought that the clearing of its habitat for houses and farming was a likely culprit. Hunting and habitat fragmentation have caused the extinction of other Jamaican species like the galliwasp. The introduction of mongooses, as well as other non-native species also seems to have doomed this creature. Although Jurassic Park is fiction, scientists are working on several de-extinction projects. In fact, in 2003 scientists did bring back the extinct Pyrenean ibex, a type of wild goat, for 7 minutes before it died, showing de-extinction is possible. The Jamaican monkey might be a candidate. Scientists would potentially use DNA from the skull & bone fragments that have been collected like the ones located in New York City. If the Jamaican monkey was brought back from extinction could it survive in Jamaica today? Groups like The Nature Conservancy (TNC) have worked for 30 years to protect the forests of the Blue and John Crow Mountains, resulting in Jamaica’s first national park, and the Montego Bay Marine Park (which was mentioned in the Caribbean monk seal post). Though there is much to do to restore the Jamaican environment, there have been many steps forward there to protect its 900+ native species as well as supporting the Jamaican people. If that balance is maintained, maybe one day the Jamaican monkey could make a return to its Jamaican home.