Changes

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

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

# It can, colloquially, refer to a prehistoric cave man, as well as a modern human.

# It can, colloquially <ref>http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=hominid</ref>, refer to the ancestors of modern humans.  It is also commonly used by scientists to refer to human ancestors and closely related species like [[Neanderthal]]s.<ref>This useum exhibit on hominids does not include gorillas. [http://www.hunterian.gla.ac.uk/collections/museum/hominid/hominid_index.shtml]</ref>

# 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.

 

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 by scientists to refer to human ancestors and closely related species like [[Neanderthal]]s.<ref>This useum exhibit on hominids does not include gorillas. [http://www.hunterian.gla.ac.uk/collections/museum/hominid/hominid_index.shtml]</ref>

 

The second definition is preferred by biologists; as per the [[Linnaean System of Classification]], it groups the organisms together by their ancestry.

== References ==

== References ==