What are hominins?

Hominins refer to a specific group that includes modern humans, Homo sapiens, as well as all of their immediate ancestors and relatives after the human lineage split from the common ancestor shared with chimpanzees and bonobos. This classification is significant in understanding human evolution, as it encompasses not just our direct ancestors, such as Homo neanderthalensis and Australopithecus, but also extinct species that are closely related to us.

The concept of hominins is essential in anthropology and paleontology because it helps in reconstructing the evolutionary history of humans, examining traits that define our lineage, and studying the adaptations that have occurred over millions of years. This definition is critical in differentiating hominins from other primates and understanding the unique evolutionary pathway that led to modern humans.

The other choices do not capture the precise definition of hominins. For instance, the notion that hominins include only prehistoric animals overlooks the inclusion of modern humans, whereas identifying them simply as a scientific term for all living species or a classification of modern mammals does not convey the specific evolutionary context that hominins occupy within the primate family.