What are hominids? Characteristics and the 8 main species

This is the proof that it is not true that our evolutionary "missing link" has not been found.

The name of our species, that of today's human being, is Homo sapiens. The man who knows. This perhaps somewhat pretentious name is the one we have given ourselves. But today's human being did not come out of nowhere: We are just one of the various products of evolution that have been lucky enough to survive. that have had the good fortune to survive. Along the way, different species, both direct ancestors and descendants of some of them, have disappeared throughout history. We have historically called these species, which are very similar to our own, hominids.

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

Hominids: main characteristics

Traditionally and until very recently, we called hominid to all current or past beings that have been part of the human genus, 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 surviving one, although there have been a large number of them that have become extinct, in some cases even coexisting and mixing with sapiens (such as the Neanderthal).

This genus is characterized by originating in Africa about six million years ago, presenting the particularity of having evolved in such a way that they could stand upright and move around bipedally (although the first ancestors did so with difficulty). This bipedalism is associated with the presence of changes in the skeletal structure. 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. The face and teeth have also been gradually undergoing changes, losing and modifying dental pieces at the same time that the diet has been changing and the face has been flattening.

Another of the main characteristics of hominids is the progressive increase in brain volume, being proportionally larger than that of other apes in relation to their wingspan. This development has allowed an ever-increasing cognitive development and the appearance of a capacity for socialization and intellect that has allowed us to manufacture and use tools and create art.

Up to this point we have been briefly reviewing the characteristics of what most of us have considered hominid until recently. However, recently there has been a small change in the classification and definition of hominid (although it is still not very widespread): hominids are considered to be all beings that are part of the family Hominidaeincluding a large number of large primate species such as chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, orangutans and jibbons.

Hominids or hominins?

As we have seen, the term hominid has changed throughout history and so far the term used to designate the group of species that have been forming part of the human genus and their ancestors with a more humanoid form. However, there is a term that also includes us and that can sometimes lead to confusion: hominins.

This term comes from the creation of the evolutionary subfamily Homininae, which refers to and encompasses a group of beings and species with similar characteristics and ancestors that basically includes the tribe Hominina (which would include current humans, extinct species of the genus Homo and their ancestors, such as the ), together with the species of the genus Pan (chimpanzees and bonobos) and the tribe Gorillini whose representatives would be the gorillas. In addition, within this category we find the Hominini, known in Castilian as homininis. Likewise, within the Hominini we would find the genus Pan (chimpanzees and bonobos) and the bipedal moninines, of which the only living representatives are the monkeys.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...) are now part of the tribe hominini together with the chimpanzees, the truth is that this is part of the family Hominidea and the family Hominoidea, so it would still be correct to continue considering us as hominids. We would simply be referring to a larger classification that would also include the families, subfamilies and genera that include orangutans and orangutans. include the orangutans and gibbons..

Some of the main known species

The current human being is the only survivor of the homo genus, the rest having become extinct.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 there is even speculation that there may be other ancestors or extinct species that we still do not know, here are some of the most recognized.

It should be noted that the species that we are going to indicate are those that until recently we considered hominids but that now would enter within the hominins, so we are not going to refer to species such as the chimpanzee. we will not refer to species such as the chimpanzee, the gorilla, the orangutan or the gibbons..

1. Ardipithecus ramidus

Although it is probably the most unknown of those that we are going to comment, the Ardipithecus ramidus is the oldest of our known bipedal ancestors, 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 had some anatomical difficulties that made it not possess a high capacity of displacement: the thumbs of the feet were not yet parallel to the rest of the toes, as in our feet, but were as those of our feet, but were opposable. Although their dentition was similar to that of apes, it was much smaller. They were still small in size, and there was sexual dimorphism in that the males were larger than the females.

2. Australopithecus anamensis

One of the oldest species of australopithecus and of which very few remains are preserved, this is a hominid with characteristics still very similar to those of the apes.. The enamel of its dentition suggests that its diet was not only fruit but possibly omnivorous. Its dentition still conserved asymmetrical molars and premolars, and it had a robust jaw with long incisors and canines. It is considered an evolution of the Ardipithecus.

3. Australopithecus afarensis

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

Although bipedal, the shape of their hands and feet makes it clear that they were still adapted to arboreal life.. The canines are quite dwarfed compared to other earlier species. It is believed that their diet was mainly based on fruit, their dentition not being particularly suitable for meat consumption.

4. Homo habilis

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 the first of the homininis to use tools on a regular basis (albeit somewhat crude stone (albeit somewhat crude stone tools, in the form of flakes).

Its cranial capacity was around 600 cubic centimeters. It is known that they hunted, which shows that they were probably already beginning to develop more complex cognitive, strategic and communicative skills.

5. Homo erectus

With thicker bones and cranial capacity superior to those of their ancestors (with a volume of between 800 and 1000 cubic centimeters), their pelvis already resembles that of the current human being. It is associated to this species the beginning of the mastery of fireas well as the elaboration of the first biface blades. They were nomadic and sociable hunters, cooperating with other groups to hunt.

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

6. Homo antecessor

With a slightly larger capacity than erectus (between 1000 and 1100 cubic cm), it is characterized by being the first species considered to be European (their remains have been mainly found in Atapuerca). Physically, they were gracile (although most remains are of infants) and had facial features similar to those of Homo sapiens. Their height was considerably greater than that of other species, reaching up to six feet tall.

It is believed that may be an ancestor of the Neanderthal and perhaps of our own species.It is probably the last link between our two species. It has also been observed that he committed cannibalism.

7. Homo neanderthalensis

The last hominid species to become extinct.The exact reasons are still unknown, and that he 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, a slightly more flattened forehead than members of our species, and the skull was projected backwards.

Of great physical strength although of a smaller height (around 1.65m), their cranial capacity (approximately 1500 cubic centimeters) even surpassed ours (around 1400). It is known that advanced cultural elements, practicing ceremonies such as burial. such as burial. They also cared for the elderly and sick, and their tools were quite developed despite being apparently simple. They probably possessed a language system that did not rely entirely on the articulation of sounds with the mouth and pharynx, and they were very knowledgeable about their environment.

• Related article, "Is our species more intelligent than the Neanderthals?"

8. Homo sapiens

Our species is the most recent of those cited so far. Without superciliary arches and with a high cranial capacity (although, as we have seen in the Neanderthals, somewhat less than theirs), modern humans showed a great facility to conquer all types of ecosystems. The first constructions created were probably the work of our species.One of the most distinctive elements is that cave paintings appear with this group (although some authors consider that many of them are also attributable to Neanderthals).

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

9. Other species

These are just some of the few that have received greater recognition by 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 the following 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)