How many different branches of hominids were there?
   Max, 11, Davis, California

Dr. dig responds:
This is a very difficult question to answer! Hominid is a fairly general term used to describe a vast number of peoples. All hominids are members of the family Hominidae, and this includes all living, dead and ancient forms of humans including all the varieties of Homo (such as Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Homo sapiens neanderthalensis, and Homo sapiens sapiens) and even the Australopithecines!