Homo (genus) - Definition and Overview

Homo is the genus that includes humans and their close relatives. The genus is estimated to be between 1.5 and 2.5 million years old. 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 chimpanzees (usually treated in the genus Pan) should also be included in the genus.

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.

See also

• Evolution of Homo sapiens

References

• Serre et al. No evidence of Neandertal mtDNA contribution to early modern humans. PLoS Biology 2:313–7 (2004).

External links

• Hominid species (http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/homs/species.html)