Hominoids

Hominoids, or members of the superfamily Hominoidea, are a group of tailless anthropoid primates that includes the apes—the gibbons (hylobatids) and the great apes—and humans. They are distinguished from monkeys by features such as larger brains relative to body size, complex locomotion and social behavior, and a lack of tails. The fossil record shows a long history of diversification in Africa and Asia.

Taxonomically, Hominoidea comprises two families: Hylobatidae (gibbons) and Hominidae (great apes and humans). Within Hominidae, orangutans are classified in subfamily Ponginae, while gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans are placed in Homininae. In some schemes, further divisions into tribes Hominini (humans and chimpanzees) and Gorillini (gorillas) are used.

Key traits include broad chests, flexible shoulder joints for climbing and brachiation, and dental formulas of 2-1-2-3 with Y-shaped molar cusp patterns. They exhibit higher cognitive abilities, varied tool use, and complex social structures. The fossil record shows early hominoids appearing in the Miocene, with later diversification of lineages leading to the modern great apes and humans.

Distribution and conservation: Today, hominoids are found in Africa and Asia. Gibbons inhabit forests of Southeast Asia; orangutans in Borneo and Sumatra; gorillas and chimpanzees across central and western Africa; many species are threatened by habitat loss, hunting, and disease, prompting conservation efforts.