Difference between revisions of "Hominid"
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The term '''hominid''' has two common definitions. | The term '''hominid''' has two common definitions. | ||
| − | # It can, colloquially, refer to | + | # It can, colloquially, refer to prehistoric man, as well as a modern human. |
# In [[taxonomy]], it can refer to humans, as well as the great apes, including gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, and their evolutionary ancestors. | # In [[taxonomy]], it can refer to humans, as well as the great apes, including gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, and their evolutionary ancestors. | ||
Revision as of 16:43, May 15, 2007
The term hominid has two common definitions.
- It can, colloquially, refer to prehistoric man, as well as a modern human.
- 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.[1] It is also commonly used by scientists to refer to human ancestors and closely related species like Neanderthals.[2]
The second definition is preferred by biologists; as per the Linnaean System of Classification, it groups the organisms together by their ancestry.