Hominoid

Hominoid is a term used in taxonomy to refer to the primate superfamily Hominoidea. The members of this superfamily are also known as apes and include humans, orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, and gibbons.

Taxonomy

The superfamily Hominoidea is divided into two families: the Hylobatidae (gibbons) and the Hominidae (great apes and humans). The Hominidae family is further divided into two subfamilies: the Ponginae (orangutans) and the Homininae (gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans).

Characteristics

Hominoids are characterized by their ability to walk upright (bipedalism), a trait that is most pronounced in humans. They also have larger brains compared to other primates, and exhibit complex social behavior and tool use.

Evolution

The evolution of hominoids is a topic of ongoing research. It is generally accepted that hominoids diverged from the Old World monkeys around 25 million years ago. The first hominoids are believed to have originated in Africa.

See also

• Primate
• Taxonomy
• Evolution

References

Hominoid Resources
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