Changes

The term '''hominid''' used to refer to a prehistoric [[cave man]], as well as a modern human. Now it refers to anyone in the family of great apes, including orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, humans, and their ancestors several millions of years ago.

The term '''hominid''' has two common definitions.

# It can refer to prehistoric man, as well as a modern human. It is the colloquial cave man.

# In [[taxonomy]], it can refer to humans, as well as the great apes, including gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, and their evolutionary ancestors.

 

The first definition is similar to what is found in common dictionaries.<ref>Merriam-Webster dictionary [http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=hominid], American Heritage [http://www.bartleby.com/61/51/H0255100.html]</ref> It is also commonly used to refer to what evolutionists consider to be human ancestors and closely related species like [[Neanderthal]]s.<ref>[http://www.hunterian.gla.ac.uk/collections/museum/hominid/hominid_index.shtml This museum exhibit on hominids does not include gorillas]</ref>

 

 

{{quotebox|The oldest generally accepted hominid genus is [[Australopithecus]], which appeared in southern Africa about 4½ million years ago in the early [[Pliocene]]. Some researchers have tried to trace a progressive line of [[evolutionary ascent]] from Australopithecus through [[Homo habilis]] and [[Homo erectus]] to [[modern humans]], but such a simplistic interpretation of the [[fossil record]] is hotly contested, even among [[Darwinists]]. The origin of the hominid family itself is even more problematic. [http://www.theosophy-nw.org/theosnw/science/prat-bra.htm]}}