Rhesus Monkey

The rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) is a species of monkey native to South and Southeast Asia. It is a type of Old World monkey and is one of the most widely distributed of all primates. Rhesus monkeys have been used in biomedical research since the 1930s prompting the development of various vaccines, treatments, and cures for various human diseases. They are also prolific breeders and are kept at many zoos around the world for their intelligence and playfulness. These monkeys are important to the study of human evolution, as they share many similarities with humans in terms of DNA sequence and behavior. Additionally, they are culturally important and appear in various folklore, religious texts, and artworks.