[Taxacom] Hominidae (and Homo)

[Kenneth Kinman]

Dear All,
      Since my recent classification of Family Hominidae, I have
continued to review additional literature.  With respect to genus Homo,
I am increasingly satisfied that Homo erectus ergaster is indeed best
regarded as a subspecies, not as a separate species from Homo erectus.
No problem there.       
      As for Homo habilis, I am now beginning to believe that Homo
habilis rudolfensis is actually the sister group of the {{H. erectus +
H. sapiens}} clade and that Homo habilis habilis is the most primitive
taxon of genus Homo (this also better accords with the known fossil
record, the earliest known specimens being assigned to Homo habilis
habilis).  Whether this will make the search for synapomorphies for
genus Homo easier or more difficult remains to be seen.
      As for Family Hominidae, I am increasing inclined to put genus
Orrorin back into that family as a basal genus.  This would leave genus
Ardipithecus (in Family Pongidae) as the single sister group of
Hominidae.  Apparently (and somewhat unfortunately), there is still a
lot of material provisionally assigned to Ardipithecus which remains
unpublished.  This genus could end up being doubly paraphyletic, with
some material ancestral to chimps and other material ancestral to
Hominidae.  Therefore, don't be surprised if a new genus is proposed to
reflect this split (unless the name Sahelanthropus corresponds to one
and Ardipithecus the other).  Given the uncertainty, I will not yet
formally put Orrorin back into Famly Hominidae, but that is what I
anticipate could very well happen.
       -------Cheers,
                     Ken Kinman
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