[Taxacom] What is a hominid?

[Ken Kinman]

Dear All,
      Feeling confused these days what is meant when someone refers to taxon 
Hominidae (or Homininae).  You aren't alone.  It was bad enough when someone 
expanded Family Hominidae to include all the African apes, and even worse 
when it was suggested that we expand it to include all great apes.

      Then in the late 1990's, Morris Goodman and some other molecular 
biologists decided that Hominidae should include the lesser apes as well.  
Hominoidea would thus be a single family.  Does anyone outside of molecular 
biology actually follow this (or the suggested transfer of Pan into genus 
Homo)?  It's enough to make Mona Lisa frown.
  ----Ken Kinman



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