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HominidA '''hominid''' is any member of the biological family '''Hominidae''' (the "great apes"), including the extinct and extant humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans. This classification Ape#History of hominoid taxonomy|has been revised several times in the last few decades. These various revisions have led to a varied use of the word "hominid": the original meaning of Hominidae referred only to the modern meaning of Hominina, i.e. only humans and their closest relatives. The meaning of the taxon changed gradually, leading to the modern meaning of "hominid," which includes all great apes.
The primatology|primatological term '''hominid''' is easily confused with a number of very similar words:
- A '''hominoid''' or ape is a member of the superfamily ''ape|Hominoidea'': extant members are the lesser apes (gibbons) and great apes.
- A '''hominid''' is a member of the family ''great ape|Hominidae'': all of the great apes.
- A '''hominine''' is a member of the subfamily ''Homininae'': gorillas, chimpanzees, humans (excludes orangutans).
- A '''hominin''' is a member of the tribe ''Hominini'': chimpanzees and humans.
- A '''hominan''' is a member of the sub-tribe ''Hominina'': modern humans and their extinct relatives.
- A '''human''' is a member of ''Homo sapiens''. The word is sometimes also used to refer to any extinct member of the genus ''Homo (genus)|Homo'' or members from other hominan genera.
- A '''humanoid''' is a vaguely human-shaped entity; the term is typically used in science fiction.
Certain Morphology (biology)|morphological characteristics are still used conventionally to support the idea that '''hominid''' should only denote humans and human ancestors, namely bipedalism (walking on two feet) and large brains. These points of departure between human beings and the other great apes are important, but according to genetically based taxonomy|taxonomic classification, are not enough to divide us into separate families. Genetics, rather than morphology, is more widely accepted as the critical standard. Many scientists, including anthropologists, use the term '''hominid''' to mean humans and their direct and near-direct bipedal ancestors.
Category:Apes
See Also
Alien HominidRelated Images
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