#rhesus monkey

"The launch of the Little Joe booster for the LJ1B mission on the launch pad from the Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Virginia, on January 21, 1960. This mission achieved the suborbital Mercury capsule test, testing of the escape system, and biomedical tests by using a monkey, named Miss Sam."

Date: January 21, 1960

Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mullata), family Cercopithecidae, order Primates, Bangladesh

Macaques are large, intelligent, omnivorous monkeys spread throughout Asia, with a single species in Northern Africa and Europe

They live in large groups with complex hierarchies

Several species, including the Rhesus macaque, have adapted well to living among people, becoming a nuisance as they raid crops, eat garbage, and occasionally attack people

The Rhesus macaque is well known for its use as a lab animal, used in behavioral and medicinal studies. One even went to space in 1948.

There are escaped invasive populations of Rhesus macaque in parts of the United States and Puerto Rico

It makes a lot of sense now why so many versions/stories has his fur take on a white-gold, brown-gold, or golden yellow color. Also, wow, New Gods: Nezha Reborn absolutely nailed the look when it comes to his teeth and facial structure if this is the case. I'm sure there's a lot more shows or movies out there that lean fully into having Monkey King be a rhesus monkey though or at least take some inspiration from what they look like.

Side note, I LOVE how fluffy their short tails look 😭

Rhesus Monkey

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