The
hamadryas baboon (;
Papio hamadryas) is a species of
baboon from the
Old World monkey family. It is the northernmost of all the baboons, being native to the
Horn of Africa and the southwestern tip of the
Arabian Peninsula. These regions provide habitats with the advantage for this species of fewer natural predators than central or southern Africa where other baboons reside. The hamadryas baboon was a sacred animal to the
ancient Egyptians and appears in various roles in
ancient Egyptian religion, hence its alternative name of 'sacred baboon'.