"Hominid" means "human-like". After the Australopithecine era, increasing brain size, remodeled teeth, and hips and lower limbs redesigned for walking are major hallmarks of the human tribe. Main features of hominids are a large brain/body weight ratio, smaller canine teeth, a head held erect on the spine, and the feet serve as platforms. Fossil evidence of the following species shows that we may have evolved from hominids:

1) H. habilis

2) H. erectus

3) H. sapiens and H. sapiens sapiens

(1) Homo habilis

H. habilis is considered to be the oldest human-like species, and lived in Africa about 2 million years ago. This "handy man" had a brain case bigger than Australopithecus, but a smaller, less projecting face, and relatively smaller cheek teeth and larger front teeth. His brain capacity was about 650-800cc. Homo habilis stood no more than 1,5 m tall and weighed about 50kg. His jaws were less massive than an australopith's, while hand and hip bones seem to have been more modern, with fully modern feet. Artifacts found near his bones suggest he made the first basic stone tools (which we have classified as belonging to the Oldowan tradition), built simple shelters, gathered plant foods, scavenged big meaty limbs from carcasses of creatures killed by carnivores, and hunted small game. H. habilis could very possibly have given rise to H. erectus. 

(2) Homo erectus

Fossil evidence indicates that by about 1,5 million years ago, H. habilis could have evolved into a more advanced human species - H. Erectus. The term "erectus" refers to the upright posture. The "upright man" had a bigger brain and body than H. habilis, and in many ways resembled a strongly built version of modern man. His skull was long and low, with a bony bump behind, a shelving forehead, thick brow bridges, a flatter face than ours, big projecting jaws, teeth more massive than our own and no chin. Brain capacity averaged 880-1100cc. Some adults probably grew 1,8m tall and were at least as heavy as ourselves. H. erectus lived about 1,6 million to 200,00 years ago. Improved technology including standard toolkits (with tools we have classified as belonging to the Acheulean tradition), big-game hunting, use of fire (see The First use of Fire), and improved building methods put erectus far ahead of former hominids, enabling this species to invade new habitats and climates.

(3) Homo sapiens and Homo sapiens sapiens

Between about 400,000 and 300,000 years ago, H. erectus may have evolved into a new human species called H. sapiens. The term "Homo sapiens" means "wise human being". All living people today belong to this species, but early H. sapiens differed greatly from modern humans. The first sapiens had large faces that protruded around the mouth and nose. They also had big brow bridges and low, sloping foreheads. The brain size of early sapiens varied over a wide range, and they were about as tall as modern human beings but had a much heavier build and were stronger. H. sapiens' were the first prehistoric people to inhabit large areas of Europe - anthropologists have found important H. sapiens fossils in England, France, Germany, Greece and Italy, as well as in many parts of Asia and Africa