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 today’s human being has not come out of nowhere: we are one of the different products of evolution that have been lucky enough to survive. And the fact is that along the way different species, both direct ancestors and descendants of some of them, have been disappearing throughout history. We have historically called these species, which are very similar to our own, hominids.

What exactly is a hominid? We will talk about it throughout this article.

Hominids: main characteristics

Traditionally, and until very recently, we called a hominid every 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 large number of them that have become extinct, in some cases even coexisting and mixing with the sapiens (such as the Neanderthal).

This genus is characterized by its origin in Africa about six million years ago, having evolved in such a way that they could stand upright and move in a bipedal fashion (although the first ancestors did so with difficulty). This bipedalism is associated to the presence of changes in the skeleton and even the body’s 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 changing, losing and modifying teeth while eating habits have changed and the face has become flatter.

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

Up to this point we have been doing a brief review of the characteristics of what most of us have considered to be hominids until recently. However, recently there has been a small change in the classification and definition of hominids (although it is not yet widely used): hominids are defined as the set of beings which are part of the family Hominidae , including a large number of species of large primates such as chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, orangutans, and jibes.

Hominids or hominins?

As we have seen, the term hominid has changed throughout history and up to now the term used to designate the group of species that have been 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: that of hominins.

This term is based on the creation of the evolutionary subfamily Homininae, which refers to and encompasses a set of beings and species with similar characteristics and ancestors which basically includes the Hominin tribe (which would include present-day human beings, extinct species of the genus Homo, and their ancestors, such as the ), along with the species of the genus Pan (chimpanzees and bonobos) and the Gorillini tribe whose representatives would be the gorillas. In addition, within this category we find the Hominini, known in Casellano as homininis. Likewise, within the Hominini we would find the genus Pan (chimpanzees and bonobos) and the bipedal monininos , 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 are now part of the Hominini tribe together with the chimpanzees, the truth is that they are part of the Hominidea family and of 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 would also be incorporated, which include the orangutans and gibbons .

Some of the main known species

The current human being is the only survivor of the genus homo , the rest of the species that have accompanied or preceded us throughout history having 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 do not yet know, below we indicate some of the most recognized.

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

1. Ardipithecus ramidus

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

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

2. Australopithecus anamensis

One of the oldest species of Australopithecus, of which very few remains have been preserved, is a hominid with characteristics that are still very similar to those of the apes . The enamel of its teeth suggests that its food was not only fruit but was possibly omnivorous. Its teeth still had asymmetrical molars and premolars, and it had a robust jaw in which long incisors and canines were lodged. 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 its ancestors with a cranial volume of about 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 the meter and a half in the case of males, larger than females).

Although bipedal, the shape of the hands and feet makes it clear that they were still adapted to tree life . The canines are quite small in comparison to other earlier species. It is believed that their diet was mainly based on fruit, their teeth not being especially suitable for meat consumption.

4. Homo habilis

It is the first representative of the genus Homo, the homo habilis is characterized by the presence of more rounded skulls but still with a certain prognathism. Small in size, it is considered to be the first of the hominins to use tools in a habitual way (although somewhat roughly made of stone, in the form of slabs).

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

5. Homo erectus

With thicker bones and a greater cranial capacity than its ancestors (with a volume of between 800 and 1000 cubic cm), its pelvis already resembles that of today’s human being. This species is associated with the beginning of the domain of fire , as well as the elaboration of the first biface leaves. They were nomadic and sociable hunters, cooperating with other groups to hunt.

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

6. Homo antecessor

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

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

7. Homo neanderthalensis

The last hominid species to become extinct , the exact reasons for which are still unknown, and which lived and shared space with modern humans for a long time, until about 30,000 years ago. Neanderthal man was a species adapted to the climate of an almost glacial Europe. They had a prominent superciliary arch, the forehead was slightly flatter than the members of our species, and the skull was slightly more projected backwards.

Of great physical strength although of a lesser height (around 1.65m), its cranial capacity (approximately 1500cm cubic) even exceeded ours (around 1400). It is known that they possessed advanced cultural elements, practicing ceremonies such as burial. They also cared for the elderly and the sick, and their tools were quite developed despite being apparently simple. They probably possessed a language system not fully supported by the articulation of sounds with the mouth and pharynx, and were great connoisseurs of the environment.

8. Homo sapiens

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

The 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 a few of the few that have received the most recognition from society and are most familiar to most of us. However, there are many more. In addition to the above, for the time being, others such as the following have been studied, although the consideration of some or others as differentiated 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)