Why is it so??

Question

Why are modern humans the only hominid left on this planet?

Answer 1

I think that evolution seems to have been too fast for humans.    We are incredible in many of our abilities.  For me, the easiest answer is that we were incredibly violent.  History sure supports that assumption but most anthropologists don't like to admit how much warfare likely shaped our evolution.  

I think we became so good at killing ourselves that other hominids were left very far behind in the technology of war.  They didn't stand a chance.  Some really tough ones like Neanderthals and some erectus managed to hang on for quite some time in remote areas.  I suspect they avoided modern humans and hid in caves to survive as long as they did.  They probably could only live where modern humans couldn't support a large population.  Perhaps some managed to live on by hiding in places that humans are really built for like swamps and steep slopes.

Answer 2

Its the way the cookie crumbled on this planet this time.  

Home Sapiens simply out competed the other hominid species be it through inter-breeding, open war, or being able to adapt and survive a climactic shift better than another species.

Answer 3

It may be of interest to note here, that following the Sumatran volcanic explosion 75,000 years ago, near modern-day Indonesia, which left the atmosphere in "nuclear-winter" conditions for several years, the estimated Homo Sapiens population to survive this event, is estimated at between 2-10,000. from which all humans today emerged...

Answer 4

The best theory I have heard is the intolerance of the alien built in to most primates. At every encounter, the judgement is made, "Is this creature before me like me enough to understand, or an unpredictable dangerous competitor?" If identified as similar enough for understanding, then trade and communication can take place. But if identified as too alien, therefore dangerous, every effort to exterminate them will be made, to eliminate the threat. Perhaps some of the extinct hominids did not have such a strong anti-alien bias; a trait that would ensure their quicker extinction. Or maybe we are just more blood-thirsty. In any case, evidence abounds today for the trait of an "us vs. them" mentality being universally present in Homo Sapiens (Sapiens).

Answer 5

Survival of the fittests - our brains and ability to adapt and create through culture - invention - allowed us to out compete any other hominid forms.  Also the mobility of the species and our ability to overcome natural barriers (mountains, oceans, etc) has meant that the Gene pool has always been able to incorporate whatever mutations may occur - as well as sharing adaptive traits, therefore the whole species changes as a whole - removing the capacity for speciation.

Answer 6

natural selection

Answer 7

Big change wasn't.Another slamed the door and the world started all over again.BOOM !

Answer 8

the reason why Homo sapians are the "dominant" humanoids on this planet refers to evolution. We developed the ability to walk upright, reconize beauty, reconize life and death, and have a tool called the thumb. Monkeys are humanoid, but not able to process as much information as humans. Our brains have more convolutions (which makes us  more intelligent) than a monkey persay. Our brain size also helped this Home sapians gain the uper hand over let's say....homo erectus (Upright man...early form of human...) Hope I was helpful

Answer 9

Think mybe the timeline has run out. the ares & monkeys ain't evolving any firther. let's check that "soup" again.

Answer 10

we also had the good fortune to leave the African savanna for more hospitable climes before we went extinct like the others.