Homininae

Homininae, also known as African hominids, is a taxonomic subfamily of the family Hominidae (the great apes). It includes humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and their extinct ancestors. The term is frequently used in discussions of human evolution and taxonomy.

More specifically, Homininae typically refers to the human line of descent after the split from the chimpanzee lineage. This usage often excludes gorillas, placing them in a separate subfamily, Gorillinae. Thus, the exact delimitation of Homininae depends on the specific taxonomic scheme being used.

When used in a narrower sense to exclude gorillas, Homininae encompasses the tribes Hominini (humans and their extinct ancestors) and Panini (chimpanzees and bonobos). It is a crucial taxonomic group for understanding the evolutionary relationships between modern humans and their closest living relatives. Defining the boundaries of Homininae and its constituent tribes involves analyzing fossil evidence, genetic data, and morphological characteristics to determine evolutionary relationships and divergence times. The study of Homininae is central to paleoanthropology and primatology.