Home > Homo (genus)

Homo is the genusSee genus (mathematics) for the use of the term in mathematics. See genus (music) for the use of the term in music. In biology, a genus (plural genera is a grouping in the classification of living organisms having one or more related and morphologically s that includes humanHuman beings are defined variously in biological, spiritual, and cultural terms, or in combinations thereof. Biologically, they are classified as Homo sapiens ( Latin for knowing man , a primate species of mammal with a highly developed brain. In spirituas and their close relatives. All species and subspecies except Homo sapiens sapiens are extinct; the last surviving relative, Homo neanderthalensis, died out 30,000 years ago, although recent evidence suggests that Homo floresiensis lived as recently as 12,000 years ago.

A minority of zoologists consider that the chimpanzeePan troglodytes Pan paniscus Chimpanzees also called chimps are the common name for two species in the genus Pan . The best known chimpanzee is Pan troglodytes the Common Chimpanzee, living in West and Central Africa. Its cousin, the Bonobo or Pygmy Chimps (usually treated in the genus Pan) should also be included in the genus.

1 Species

• Homo rudolfensis
• Homo habilis
• Homo ergaster
• Homo erectus
• Homo floresiensis (Flores Man - discovered 2003)
• Homo heidelbergensis (Heidelberg Man)
• Homo neanderthalensis (Neanderthal Man)
• Homo sapiens (including modern humans, Homo sapiens sapiens)

The last three have been considered to be subspecies of Homo sapiens, but analysis of mitochondrial DNA from H. neanderthalensis fossils suggests that the difference is great enough to count as a separate species.