Hominin Hominid Hominoid

[itsdanny]

Hi,

May I ask how do you distinguish between Hominins, Hominids and Hominoids? I've seen quite a few different interpretations and in some sources, place hominids and hominids as interchangeable terms... If anyone could provide a few distinctions and/or definitions and anything else that might help, that would be great thanks!

[alphamale]

Yeah just realize some textbooks are actually incorrect. They use the term hominids for what is meant to be hominins.

According to VCAA:

Hominoids: refers to the broad term for great and lesser apes which includes gibbons, orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees and humans.

Hominids: includes just the great apes orangutans, chimpanzees and humans

Hominins: Refers to the bipedal human species and relatives such as Australopithecus Afarensis and Homo Habilus, Homo Erectus, Homo sapiens etc.

VCAA is actually aware of the incorrect definitions in some texts books but they believe it's the teachers responsibility to disclose the correct meanings.

[itsdanny]

Thank you for that. I hope this helps many others.