What are hominids? Primates are mammals belonging to a family called Hominidae. There are eight species in this family, including Homo and Gorilla. The family name refers to their ancestors’ distinctive snouts. This group of primates is also known as the hominins, and it has a long and varied evolutionary history.
Hominid Characteristics
Hominids are bipedal, tailless primates, which range in size from the bonobo to the eastern gorilla. Modern humans are in the middle of that size range. Hominids exhibit complex social behavior and their sexuality is linked to pleasure. They also build elaborate nests and care for their young for a prolonged period.
Hominin fossils have been found dating back to the Miocene. Modern humans and other modern species descend from the earliest Homo species. They were very similar to each other, but differed in the ways they moved. Their jawbones were wider, and their feet were more arched. They also had relatively small brains compared to modern humans.
Hominids include chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas. They are also part of the family of great apes. Hominoids are classified into two subfamilies, the Hominidae and the Hylobatidae. Humans are the only species in the Hominae subfamily that hasn’t died out.