Hominid vs Hominine
The topmost of the evolutionary tree belongs to primates as of now, but the hominids and hominines hold the actual possession of the most prestigious position of the evolution. However, there are important differences between hominids and hominines in many aspects. Since these terms are closely related in meaning, it would be important to know the slight differences between hominid, hominine, hominin, and hominoid. This article summarizes the difference between hominid and hominine.
Hominid
Hominid is the commonly used term to refer the members of the primate family called Hominidae. It comes under the Superfamily: Hominoidae. There are two subfamilies of hominids known as Ponginae and Homininae. The originally described hominids included only the humans and their closest relatives. However, with revisions made in the last couple of decades in the field of primate evolution, all the extinct and extant great apes including humans, chimps, gorillas, orang-utans, and bonobos have been considered as hominids. There are seven extant hominid species on the Earth, and all the others have been extinct. However, there are 14 different taxonomic entities could be identified when the subspecies are also considered. Fossil evidence of more than 24 genera of hominids suggests their great diversity.
Hominids include both bipedal and quadruped primates. Strong hind legs with the flexible forelimbs are important to notice about hominids. The absence of the tail is important about them. Despite their capability to eat both plant and animal matter, the majority of hominids primarily feed on fruits except humans. The dental formula is the same as the old world monkeys, but the jaws are very large except in humans. Many hominids live in small family groups headed by one or two dominant males. Females become pregnant in only few years, as weaning takes about 8 – 13 years.
Hominine
Hominines are members of a subfamily of hominids, known as Homininae. Hominines are the most evolved group of animals with the largest capacity of brain among all animals. There are three main members of hominines known as Humans, Chimpanzees, and Gorillas. Humans being the least diversified have only one extant species of Homo, but there are two gorilla species (each with two subspecies) and two chimpanzee species (only one species has four subspecies). However, the extinct species of the genera Homo, Australopithecus, Paranthropus and Ardipithecus are included to this group.
Modern humans, Homo sapiens, have the largest brain size of about 1250 cubic centimetres (cc), which is slightly less than the Neanderthals. The sexual dimorphism has been observed to be decreasing with the evolution, as humans show it the slightest but gorillas show it highest within hominines. Most of the hominines are bipedal, but gorillas are more towards being quadruped. Sexuality in hominines has been evolved as a mean of pleasure as well as for the reproduction, as men are not aware of the ovulation times of women but ready to mate anytime. However, females of lower hominines such as chimpanzees advertise themselves to males with swollen genitals. The sexual maturity is reached at about 8 – 13 years from birth, but human parents care for their children even after letting them go. Hominin is a sub group of hominines, and it includes the modern humans and closest extinct relatives.
What is the difference between Hominid and Hominine?
• Hominine is a subfamily of hominids.
• Hominines have a better developed brain than hominids.
• Hominids include mainly quadrupeds, whereas hominines are mostly bipedal.
• Hominines are more evolved than hominids.
• Most of the hominids prefer fruits as their food, but some hominines such as humans prefer food with animal proteins.
• Hominines have more complex and developed language skills than hominids.
• Hominids wean their children after sexual maturity but not all the hominines, viz. humans, ever take their eyes off from sons and daughters.
• Hominids are taxonomically diversified more than hominines.