Hominidae

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Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images

Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus)

human evolution

hominin fossil sites in Ethiopia

Tentative phylogenetic scheme for the evolution of the human lineage. Solid bars indicate the time ranges during which species are thought to have existed, based on fossil evidence. Dotted lines signify evolutionary relationships between hominin species that have been proposed on the basis of the fossil evidence.

Figure 3: The increase in hominid cranial capacity over time.

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animal. Amphibian. Frog. Anura. Ranidae. Frog in grass.

Abundant Animals: The Most Numerous Organisms in the World

Spider monkey swinging in a tree. (primate, jungle animal)

Why Do Animals Have Tails?

cat. orange and white persian cat with long hair, snarl, growl, teeth

7 Questions About Mammals Answered

Skull of Homo heidelbergensis (fossils, hominids).

Human Ancestors

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King Cobra snake in Malaysia. (reptile)

9 of the World’s Deadliest Snakes

Nazi Germany, Nazi SS troops marching with victory standards at the Party Day rally in Nuremberg, Germany, 1933. (Schutzstaffel, Nazi Party, Nurnberg)

Why Was Nazi Germany Called the Third Reich?

Close up of books. Stack of books, pile of books, literature, reading. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society

12 Novels Considered the “Greatest Book Ever Written”

Groups of depositors in front of the closed American Union Bank, New York City. April 26, 1932. Great Depression run on bank crowd

Causes of the Great Depression

Queen Elizabeth II addresses at opening of Parliament. (Date unknown on photo, but may be 1958, the first time the opening of Parliament was filmed.)

All 119 References in “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained

Hemp (Cannabis sativa).

9 Mind-Altering Plants

Rural Irish landscape, Sligo, Ireland.

Why Is Ireland Two Countries?

Hominidae: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As	hominid

Photos

Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus)

human evolution

hominin fossil sites in Ethiopia

Tentative phylogenetic scheme for the evolution of the human lineage. Solid bars indicate the time ranges during which species are thought to have existed, based on fossil evidence. Dotted lines signify evolutionary relationships between hominin species that have been proposed on the basis of the fossil evidence.

Figure 3: The increase in hominid cranial capacity over time.

See All Images →

Topics

Australopithecus Ardipithecus Kenyanthropus Boskop skull Pithecanthropus Paranthropus Orrorin Ponginae Homininae orangutan gibbon

Key People

Marcellin Boule

Marcellin Boule

French geologist

Quiz

vulture. An adult bearded vulture at a raptor recovery center. The Gypaetus barbatus also known as the Lammergeier or Lammergeyer, is a bird of prey and considered an Old World vulture.

Animal Factoids

Sea otter (Enhydra lutris), also called great sea otter, rare, completely marine otter of the northern Pacific, usually found in kelp beds. Floats on back. Looks like sea otter laughing. saltwater otters

Animal Group Names

Mute swan with cygnet. (birds)

Match the Baby Animal to Its Mama Quiz

Lion (panthera leo)

Deadliest Animals Quiz

Young chimpanzee dressed in a shirt and sweater vest, scratching his head thinking. (primates)

Wild Words from the Animal Kingdom Vocabulary Quiz

List

cat. orange and white persian cat with long hair, snarl, growl, teeth

7 Questions About Mammals Answered

animal. Amphibian. Frog. Anura. Ranidae. Frog in grass.

Abundant Animals: The Most Numerous Organisms in the World