Homininae
Homininae
Homininae (/hɒmɪˈnaɪ/), also known as African apes or hominines, is a subfamily of Hominidae. It includes two tribes, with their extant as well as extinct species: 1) the Hominini tribe (with the genus Homo, Pan, and Australopithecus); and 2) the Gorillini tribe (with the genus Gorilla).
Etymology
The term "Homininae" was introduced by British biologist John Edward Gray in 1825. It is derived from the Latin term "hominis", meaning "of man".
Classification
Homininae is a subfamily of the family Hominidae, which is commonly known as the "great apes". This subfamily is further divided into two tribes: Hominini and Gorillini. The Hominini tribe includes humans and their closest extinct relatives, while the Gorillini tribe includes the gorillas.
Evolution
The subfamily Homininae split from the subfamily Ponginae around 14 million years ago during the Miocene epoch. The tribe Hominini and Gorillini diverged around 8 million years ago.
Related Terms
- Hominidae: The family that includes humans, great apes, and orangutans.
- Hominini: A tribe within the subfamily Homininae that includes humans and their closest extinct relatives.
- Gorillini: A tribe within the subfamily Homininae that includes gorillas.
- Ponginae: A subfamily within the family Hominidae that includes orangutans.
- Miocene: An epoch in the Earth's history, from about 23 to 5.3 million years ago, during which the Homininae evolved.
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