Hominini

Hominini is a taxonomic tribe within the family Hominidae that includes humans and all extinct species more closely related to humans than to chimpanzees. In this sense, Hominini encompasses the genus Homo and numerous fossil genera such as Australopithecus and Paranthropus, representing the evolutionary line that led to modern humans.

In many modern classifications, Hominini is divided into two subtribes: Hominina, comprising the human lineage (including Homo and many fossil species), and Pan, comprising chimpanzees and bonobos. Some authorities place Pan as a separate genus within Hominini, while others classify Pan in a distinct tribe Panini; consequently the exact arrangement varies among sources.

The split between the Pan and Hominini lineages is estimated to have occurred around 6 to 7 million years ago in Africa. The Hominini lineage shows traits such as habitual bipedalism, reductions in canine size, and eventually significant brain expansion and adaptive tool use. The fossil record includes australopiths such as Australopithecus afarensis, early Homo species such as Homo habilis, and later forms such as Homo erectus, Homo heidelbergensis, Homo neanderthalensis, and Homo sapiens.

Geographically, the earliest hominins are from Africa, with later species dispersing to other continents. Hominini fossils provide key insights into human evolution, variation, and the development of culture.