Hominoidea

Hominoidea, or hominoids, is a primate superfamily that includes the apes and humans. It comprises two families: Hylobatidae, the gibbons and siamang (the lesser apes), and Hominidae, the great apes and humans.

Evolution and classification: Hominoidea lies within the clade Catarrhini. The lineage diverged from other primates around 25–30 million years ago, and Hylobatidae and Hominidae split roughly 15–20 million years ago. Within Hominidae, orangutans (Pongo) diverged first, and the African great apes (Gorilla and Pan) diverged from the lineage leading to Homo later.

Key characteristics and diversity: Hominoids are distinguished by the absence of a tail and a relatively large brain for their body size. They tend to have more complex social structures and enhanced manual dexterity compared with other primates. Hylobatids are small, highly agile arboreal brachiators living in tropical forests of Southeast Asia. Hominids display a broader range of locomotion, including suspensory and knuckle-walking forms in gorillas and chimpanzees, and habitual bipedalism in humans. All share a common dental pattern of a Y-shaped cusp arrangement in the molars.

Distribution and ecology: Hylobatidae inhabit the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, while Hominidae occur in Africa and Asia, with humans having a global distribution. Many hominoid species are threatened by habitat loss, hunting, and disease. Conservation efforts emphasize habitat protection, anti-poaching measures, and rehabilitation programs.