Hominid
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The term hominid has two common definitions.
- It can, colloquially [1], refer to the ancestors of modern humans. It is also commonly used by scientists to refer to human ancestors and closely related species like Neanderthals.[2]
- In taxonomy, it can refer to humans, as well as the great apes, including gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, and their evolutionary ancestors. This technical definition is preferred by biologists, as per the Linnaean System of Classification which groups organisms together by their ancestry.
References
- ↑ http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=hominid
- ↑ This useum exhibit on hominids does not include gorillas. [1]