An objective time based phylogenetic classification of primates that places chimpanzees and humans in the genus Homo

Resumen

Molecular phylogenetics, a coupling of molecular biology to Hennig’s phylogenetic systematics, is bringing about a twofold shift in paradigms, one in systematics and the other in how we view our place in nature. The new paradigm in systematics disbands the traditional use of taxonomic grades and, instead, favors strictly genealogical classifications in which all taxa are monophyletic and are arranged in a hierarchical scheme that reflects the time course of phylogeny. The second new paradigm rejects the traditional anthropological view that we humans are greatly different from all other species and instead emphasizes our commonalities with other species, e.g. our very close genetic identity to chimpanzees. On using DNA evidence on primate phylogeny, complemented by paleontological evidence, a temporal based classification of primates describes objectively, without anthropocentric biases, the taxonomic place of humans among the primates. All living apes and humans belong to subfamily Homininae. Homininae divides into Hylobatini (common and siamang gibbons) and Hominini, the latter into Pongina for Pongo (orangutans) and Hominina for Gorilla and Homo. Homo itself divides into the subgenera H. (Homo) for humans and H. (Pan) for common and pygmy chimpanzees. Even on disbanding Australopithecus and Ardipithecus by placing their species into Homo (Homo), the presumed genealogical relationships of these extinct species to each other and to living humans can be depicted by how the species are listed and indented under the subgenus rank.

Key words: Molecular phylogenetics, phylogenetic classification, taxonomic ranks, DNA evidence, primate phylogeny, primate clades, bipedal hominids, common and bonobo chimpanzees, Homo (Homo), Homo (Pan).