hominoid
Definition
- Noun:
- A member of the superfamily Hominoidea: A hominoid is any primate belonging to the biological superfamily that includes both the lesser apes (gibbons and siamangs) and the great apes (orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos) as well as humans and their extinct ancestors.
Usage
- The term hominoid is used in scientific, anthropological, and zoological contexts to classify and discuss primates within this specific evolutionary grouping.
- It is a broad taxonomic category, emphasizing the shared anatomical and genetic traits that distinguish these primates from other primate groups like Old World monkeys.
Examples
- Noun:
- Fossil evidence suggests this creature was a hominoid that lived millions of years ago.
- Chimpanzees and humans are both classified as hominoids.
- The study compared the shoulder anatomy of various hominoids.
Advanced Usage
- In cladistics (a method of biological classification), the term hominoid specifies a clade, a group consisting of a common ancestor and all its descendants.
- The superfamily Hominoidea is divided into two families: Hylobatidae (the lesser apes) and Hominidae (the great apes and humans).
Variants and Related Words
- Hominoid (adj): Pertaining to the superfamily Hominoidea.
- The researcher studied hominoid evolution.
- Hominidae (n): The biological family within Hominoidea that includes great apes and humans.
- Hominoidea (n): The scientific name for the superfamily itself.
Synonyms
- Ape (in a broad, non-scientific sense, though "ape" often excludes humans in common usage, while "hominoid" includes them).
- Anthropoid (a broader term that can include all apes and monkeys, not just hominoids).
Notes on Meaning
- It is crucial to distinguish hominoid from similar terms:
- Hominid: A member of the family Hominidae (great apes and humans). All hominids are hominoids, but not all hominoids (e.g., gibbons) are hominids.
- Hominin: A member of the tribe Hominini, which includes modern humans, extinct human species, and our immediate ancestors. This is a much narrower group than hominoid.
Noun
-
a primate of the superfamily Hominoidea
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