Hominidae

Hominidae, commonly known as the great apes, is a family of primates that includes humans and the other large-bodied apes. Today the family comprises orangutans (Pongo), gorillas (Gorilla), chimpanzees and bonobos (Pan), and humans (Homo). Members are generally distinguished by larger body size relative to other primates, increased brain size, and more complex social behavior and cognition.

Within Hominidae, living species are placed in four genera: Pongo, Gorilla, Pan, and Homo. The subfamily Homininae includes humans and African great apes, while Ponginae includes orangutans. The family also contains many extinct members, such as Australopithecines and other early hominids, known from fossil evidence and molecular data that illuminate the evolutionary relationships among these lineages.

Evolutionarily, the Hominidae lineage arose in the Miocene. The orangutan lineage split from the African great apes first, with estimates around 12–16 million years ago, while the human lineage diverged from the chimpanzee lineage about 5–7 million years ago. Common traits across the family include relatively large brains for body size, tool use in several species, extended juvenile periods, and long-lived social groups. Locomotion ranges from knuckle-walking in gorillas and chimpanzees to suspensory climbing in orangutans and obligate bipedalism in humans.

Habitat and range today span Africa and parts of Asia, with orangutans restricted to forests of Borneo and Sumatra and African apes across sub-Saharan Africa. They exhibit diverse social structures and communication patterns, with evidence of culture and learning. Many Hominidae species are threatened by habitat loss, hunting, and disease, with several taxa classified as endangered or critically endangered. Conservation emphasizes habitat protection, anti-poaching, and rehabilitation programs.