0 a member of a group that consists of humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orang-utangs, or an early form of one of these
However, this unique brain/body coupling in hominids may well have evolved by virtue of selection for increased brain power (and consequently, larger brain size).
The agency that drives the guided evolution of these early hominids is an alien artefact in the shape of a black monolith.
A significant asset as a first-year introductory text is its coverage of all palaeontology from microfossils to hominids and plants.
Another line of thought argues that the massive encephalization of hominids is a unique evolutionary event.
In this respect, at least, these early hominids were very ape-like.
If any or all of these hominids made and used tools, as modern chimpanzees clearly do, then they have not been preserved.
During the first episode, hominids developed the ability to impose shape on artifacts, an ability undocumented for any living apes.
Earlier hominids had been largely woodland creatures who focused most of their activity close to standing water.
