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Australiopithecine- A small-brained hominid from 4.2+ millions years ago to 1 million years ago that represents the ancestors of all later hominids and several extinct hominid branches. Basically bipedal Chimpanzees.
Bipedal- The ability to walk on 2 feet.
Gigantopithecus- An Asian fossil ape genus which existed from 12 millions years ago to 500,000 or even 300,000 years ago. The largest primate known, it may have reached a height of 12 feet when standing erect, and may have weighed 1200 lbs.
Hominid- Any member of the family hominidae. Modern humans and our ancestors. Bipedal primates.
Hominoid- Includes all apes and all hominids. Extinct and alive.
Homo Erectus- Fossil Hominid dated from at least 1.8 million years ago to as late as 200,000 years ago. First appearing in Africa, H. Erectus was the first hominid to expand beyond Africa. The first hominid to make advances in stone tool technology, and the first to control fire. They were relatively hairless, and the limb bones were essentially modern, but reflected an extremely active way of life.
Neandertal- A human form dated from about 250,000 years ago to about 25,000 yeras ago. They have been found in Europe and Southwest Asia. More robust than modern humans, they were built to live in the cold, glacial climates of Europe. Bodies were hairy, but weren't covered in hair.
Quadrupedal- The ability to walk on 4 legs.
Subspecies- Physically distinguishable populations within a species of animal.