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 Proconsul:
An Early Miocene fossil dating from 20 million years ago.
It may have been the common ancestral of apes and humans.
The superfamily Hominoidea, hominoids,
includes apes and humans. They are distinguished from the Old World
monkeys superfamily Ceropithecoidea. Hominoids share many
characteristics which indicate descent from arboreal ancestral species
adapted for brachiation. This form of locomotion involves arm over
arm swinging, a common human playground activity, which is now best
represented among gibbons. Adaptations for brachiation include a orthograde,
or semi-erect posture, and highly flexible and mobile arms and shoulders.
Hominoids also have large body sizes and the largest absolute and relative
brain sizes among the primates.
General hominoid characteristics:
- distinctive molar teeth, exhibiting a 5
pointed crown, (known as a Y-5 pattern);
- orthograde posture;
- flexible arm and shoulder joints;
- arms longer than legs (except for
humans);
- absence of a tail;
- large, complex brains.
Hominoids are divided into three families:
- Hylobatidae
(gibbons);
- Pongidae
(orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos); and
- Hominidae
(humans).
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