What are hominids? Characteristics and the 8 main species

The name of our species, that of the current human being, is that of Homo sapiens. The man who knows. This perhaps somewhat pretentious name is the one we have given ourselves. But the current human being has not come out of nowhere: we are one of the different products of evolution who have been lucky enough to survive. And it is that along the way different species, both direct ancestors and descendants of some of them, have been disappearing throughout history. To all these species, very similar to ours, we have historically called hominids.

What is a hominid exactly? We are going to talk about it throughout this article.

• Related article: "The theory of biological evolution"

Hominids: main characteristics

Traditionally and until very recently, we called hominid any current or past being that has been part of the human race, being an ancestor or being related to the current human being: the Homo sapiens. From this conception of the word hominid, our species is currently the only survivor, although there have been a great number of them that have been extinct, in some cases even coexisting and mixing with sapiens (such as the Neanderthal).

This genus is characterized by originating in Africa around six million years ago, presenting the particularity of having evolved in such a way that they could stand upright and move bipedally (although the first ancestors did so with difficulty). This bipedalism is associated with the presence of changes in the skeleton and even the body physiognomy, presenting variations in the lower extremities, the pelvis (which must be strengthened and made wider to be able to support the weight) and even the shape of the spine vertebral. The face and teeth have also gradually undergone changes, losing and modifying teeth at the same time that the diet has varied and the face has flattened.

Another of the main characteristics of hominids is the progressive increase in brain volume, being proportionally greater than that of other apes in relation to their size. This development has allowed an increasing cognitive development and the emergence of an ability to increasingly noticeable socialization and intellect, which has allowed us to make and use tools or create art.

So far we have been doing a brief review of the characteristics of what most of us have considered hominid until recently. However, recently there has been a small change in the hominid classification and definition (although it is not yet widely expanded): Hominids are considered to be the set of beings that are part of the Hominidae family, including a large number of large primate species such as chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, orangutans, and cuttlefish.

• You may be interested: "The 10 branches of Biology: their objectives and characteristics"

Hominids or hominins?

As we have seen, the term hominid has changed throughout history and until now the term used in order to designate the set of species that have been part of the human genus and their ancestors with a more humanoid shape. However, there is a term that also includes us and that can sometimes be confusing: that of hominins.

This term starts from the creation of the evolutionary subfamily Homininae, which refers to and encompasses a set of beings and species with similar characteristics and ancestors that basically includes the Hominina tribe (which would include current human beings, species of the genus Homo extinct and their ancestors, such as), along with the species of the genus Pan (chimpanzees and bonobos) and the Gorillini tribe whose representatives would be gorillas. In addition, within this category we find the Hominini, known in casellano as homininis. In addition, within the Hominini we would find the genus Pan (chimpanzees and bonobos) and the bipedal moninines, of which the only living representatives are the sapiens.

However, despite the fact that according to the new classification the human being and the rest of those belonging to the genus Homo (sapiens, neanderthalensis ...) until now form the tribe hominini along with chimpanzees, the truth is that it falls within the Hominidea family and the Hominoidea family, so it would still be correct to continue considering ourselves hominids. We would simply be referring to a larger classification in which the families, subfamilies and genera that would also be incorporated include orangutans and gibbons.

Some of the main known species

The current human being is the only survivor of the homo genus, the rest of the species that have accompanied or preceded us throughout history have become extinct. But these have been multiple. Although there are more and it is even speculated that there may be other ancestors or extinct species that we still do not know, here are some of the most recognized.

We must take into account the species that we are going to indicate are those that until recently we considered hominids but that now would enter into the hominins, with which we are not going to refer to species such as the chimpanzee, gorilla, orangutan or gibbons.

1. Ardipithecus ramidus

Although it is probably the most unknown of those we are going to comment on, the Ardipithecus ramidus It is the oldest of our bipedal ancestors known, so its discovery is important. Its best known representative is Ardi, from the remains of which a large part has been recovered.

This species walked only on its legs, but it had some anatomical difficulties that made it not have a high capacity for movement: the thumbs of the feet were not yet parallel to the rest of the fingers like that of our feet but opposable. Although they had a dentition similar to that of apes, the truth is that it was much smaller. They were still small in size, and there was sexual dimorphism in which males were larger than females.

2. Australopithecus anamensis

One of the oldest australopithecus species and of which very few remains are preserved, it is a hominid with characteristics still very similar to those of apes. The enamel of its dentition suggests that its diet was not only fruit but that it was possibly omnivorous. His dentition still had asymmetric molars and premolars, and he had a robust jaw in which long incisors and canines were lodged. It is considered evolution of the ardipithecus.

3. Australopithecus afarensis

This type of australopithecus is probably the most popular, being the well-known Lucy member of this species. The cranial capacity increased with respect to its ancestors with a cranial volume of around 480 cubic cm, being able to reach a size similar to that of a current chimpanzee but in a relatively smaller body (the average would not exceed one and a half meters in the case of males, larger than the females).

Although bipeds, the shape of the hands and feet makes it clear that they were still adapted to tree life. The canines are quite dwarfed in comparison to other previous species. It is believed that their diet was mainly fruit-based, and their teeth were not particularly suitable for meat consumption.

4. Homo habilis

It is the first representative of the genus Homo, homo habilis is characterized by the presence of more rounded skulls although still with a certain prognathism. Small in size, it is considered to be the first of the homininis to use tools on a regular basis (although somewhat coarse of stone, in the form of flakes).

Its cranial capacity was around 600 cubic cm. They are known to hunt, suggesting that more complex cognitive, strategic and communication skills were probably already beginning to develop.

5. Homo erectus

With thicker bones and a cranial capacity superior to those of its ancestors (with a volume of between 800 and 1000 cubic cm), its pelvis already resembles that of today's human being. The beginning of the domain of fire is associated with this species, as well as the elaboration of the first double-sided leaves. They were nomadic and sociable hunters, cooperating with other groups to hunt.

It is believed that the last populations may have coexisted with Homo sapiens in Asia, and it was probably one of the first hominid species to travel out of Africa to Eurasia.

6. Homo antecessor

With a capacity somewhat greater than that of erectus (between 1000 and 1100 cubic cm), it is characterized by being the first species considered European (His remains have been mainly found in Atapuerca). Physically, they were graceful (although most remains are infants) and had facial features similar to those of Homo sapiens. Its height was considerably greater than that of other species, reaching one meter eighty.

It is believed that may be ancestor of the Neanderthal and perhaps our own species, being probably the last link between our two species. It has also been observed to commit cannibalism.

7. Homo neanderthalensis

The last hominid species to become extinct, the exact reasons are still unknown, and that it lived and shared space with the current human being for a long time, until about 30,000 years ago. Neanderthal man was a species adapted to the climate of a practically glacial Europe. They had a prominent superciliary arch, the forehead somewhat more flattened than members of our species, and the skull somewhat more projected backward.

Of great physical strength although of a lower height (around 1.65m), his cranial capacity (approximately 1500cm cubic) even exceeded ours (around 1400). It's known that possessed advanced cultural elements, practicing ceremonies such as burial. They also cared for the elderly and infirm, and their tools were quite developed despite being seemingly simple. They probably possessed a language system not totally supported by the articulation of sounds with the mouth and pharynx, and they were highly knowledgeable about the environment.

• Related article: "Is Our Species Smarter Than Neanderthals?"

8. Homo sapiens

Our species is the most recent of those mentioned so far. Without brow ridges and a high cranial capacity (although as we have seen in Neanderthals, somewhat lower than theirs), modern humans showed great ease in conquering all kinds of ecosystems. The first constructions created were probably the work of our species, and one of the main most distinctive elements is that cave paintings appear with this group (although some authors consider that many are also attributable to Neanderthals).

Sapiens appeared in Africa, migrating first to Asia and then to Europe (where it would meet Neanderthals) sometime between 200,000 and 150,000 years ago.

9. Other species

These are just a few of the few that have received greater recognition from society and are more familiar to most of us. However, there are many more. In addition to the above, for the moment, others such as those that follow have been studied, although the consideration of one or the other as distinct species or as subspecies is not always clear:

• Australopithecus garhi
• Australopithecus africanus
• Paranthropus aethiopicus
• Paranthropus robustus
• Paranthropus boisei
• Kenyanthropus platyops
• Homo gautengensis
• Homo georgicus
• Homo ergaster
• Homo heidelbergensis
• Homo floresiensis
• Homo rudolfensis
• Homo rhodesiensis
• Homo helmei
• Homo sapiens idaltu (possible subspecies of homo sapiens)