Hominidae - great apes, humans
 There are seven species in this family, including chimpanzees, gorillas,
orangutans, and humans. This family used to just include humans, but new DNA analysis shows that gorillas and chimpanzees should also be in this family. With the exception of humans, all of the species in this family are found in Africa and Asia.
Hominids have no tails; well developed forearms; five fingers and five toes; and except for humans, opposable thumbs and big toes. Humans only have opposable thumbs. Hominids can stand up on two legs, and humans always walk on two legs.
Males are larger than females. Hominids have large brains in relationship to their body size. They are very social and use vocalizations as well as visual displays to communicate. Some species of hominids can also use language to communicate. Humans can talk and other species of hominids, like gorillas and
chimpanzees, have successfully been taught to communicate using sign language. All hominids, except for humans, are good tree climbers, and orangutans live in trees. All hominids are omnivores. Female hominids usually give birth to a single baby and take care of it for a number of years.
World Status Key
 Least Concern  Near Threatened  Vulnerable  Endangered  Critically Endangered  Extinct in Wild  Extinct
Status taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status, or there is no status data for the species.
US Status Key
 Threatened in US  Threatened in NH  Endangered in US  Endangered in NH  Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game
New Hampshire Species |
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North/Central American Species |
| Human - Homo sapiens |
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None |
Additional Information Resource Key
 Profile  Photos  Video  Audio
Bonobo - Pan paniscus 
The bonobo is the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Bornean Orangutan - Pongo pygmaeus 
The Bornean orangutan is found in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Eastern Gorilla - Gorilla beringei
The eastern gorilla is found in Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Robust Chimpanzee - Pan troglodytes
The robust chimpanzee is found in Angola, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Sumatran Orangutan - Pongo abelii
The Sumatran orangutan is found in Indonesia.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Western Gorilla - Gorilla gorilla
The western gorilla is found in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Nigeria.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School |
Australia/Oceania 
Europe 
North/Central America 
South America 
NH Species