Evolutionary:Example species: Difference between revisions
More actions
Three minimal example pages: species, planet, system |
Example pages: Humans and the Sol system, at the level of detail of real articles |
||
| (One intermediate revision by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Notice|'''Example page.''' This shows how a species page is laid out | {{Notice|'''Example page.''' This shows how a species page is laid out, using humans as the subject. Open the editor to see how it's built.}} | ||
{{Infobox species | {{Infobox species | ||
| name = | | name = Human | ||
| scientific_name = | | scientific_name = Homo sapiens | ||
| type = Fauna | | type = Fauna | ||
| sapience = | | biochemistry = Carbon-based | ||
| homeworld = [[Evolutionary:Example | | sapience = Sapient | ||
| system = [[Evolutionary:Example system| | | homeworld = [[Evolutionary:Example system#Earth|Earth]] | ||
| habitat = | | system = [[Evolutionary:Example system|Sol]] | ||
| diet = | | habitat = Terrestrial; every continent | ||
| size = 1.5 ~ 1.9 m (adults); 50 ~ 100 kg | |||
| lifespan = 70 ~ 80 years (record: 122 years) | |||
| diet = Omnivorous | |||
| reproduction = Sexual; live birth after ~9 months | |||
| communication = Spoken and written language; gesture; facial expression | |||
| technology = Industrial; spaceflight | |||
| status = Widespread (~8 billion individuals) | |||
}} | }} | ||
<!-- First sentence: the page name in bold, the scientific name in italics, and what it is. --> | |||
'''Humans''' (''Homo sapiens'') are carbon-based, bipedal primates native to [[Evolutionary:Example system#Earth|Earth]], the third planet of the [[Evolutionary:Example system|Sol]] system. They are the only surviving members of the genus ''Homo'', and are distinguished by their large brains, fine manual dexterity, and capacity for complex language and culture. | |||
Humans are the most widespread large animal on their homeworld, inhabiting every continent and most of its climates. Through technology rather than physical adaptation, they have also established a continuous presence in low orbit, and have sent crewed missions to their planet's moon. | |||
<!-- Sections follow the order in the style guide. Skip any that don't apply. --> | |||
== Description == | == Description == | ||
The | Humans walk fully upright on two legs, with an S-shaped spine and arched feet that absorb the impact of each step. This frees the forelimbs entirely for manipulation: each hand has four fingers and an opposable thumb capable of both a powerful grip and precise fine movements. Compared to other primates, humans have a flat face, a small jaw, and a large, rounded braincase. | ||
Most of the body is covered in fine, short hair that is barely visible. Thicker hair grows on the scalp, and after puberty in the armpits and groin, and on the face of most males. Skin colour ranges from very dark brown to pale pink, depending on the amount of the pigment melanin; populations that evolved under strong sunlight tend to have darker skin. Adults typically stand 1.5 to 1.9 m tall, with males on average somewhat taller and heavier than females. | |||
== Biology == | |||
The human brain averages around 1,350 cm³, roughly three times the size expected for a primate of the same body mass. It consumes about 20 percent of the body's energy while making up only 2 percent of its weight. | |||
Humans are exceptional endurance runners. Millions of sweat glands spread across the skin let them shed heat during long exertion, a trait thought to have allowed early humans to hunt by running prey to exhaustion. | |||
Human young are born highly dependent and develop slowly. A single offspring is usual, after a pregnancy of around 9 months, and childhood lasts over a decade before sexual maturity. This long period of care leaves time for each generation to learn language, skills, and culture from the last. | |||
* '''Diet:''' omnivorous; humans eat a very wide range of plants and animals, and almost always cook or otherwise process their food. | |||
* '''Senses:''' colour vision with three types of cone cells; good hearing; a comparatively weak sense of smell. | |||
* '''Lifespan:''' around 70 to 80 years where food and medicine are plentiful. The longest confirmed human life lasted 122 years. | |||
== Behaviour == | == Behaviour == | ||
Humans are intensely social, living in families nested within larger communities that can number in the millions. They communicate primarily through spoken language, of which thousands exist, and record it in writing. | |||
Tool use defines the species and its ancestors. Simple stone tools predate ''Homo sapiens'' by millions of years; humans added controlled fire, agriculture, metalworking, and eventually machines powered by fossil fuels and electricity. | |||
== Habitat and range == | |||
Humans first appeared in Africa and are now found on every continent, from equatorial forests to permanent research stations in Antarctica. Almost all live on land, although some cultures have historically lived on boats or along the sea for most of their lives. | |||
Beyond their homeworld, humans have maintained a permanent crewed presence in orbit since 2000, aboard space stations. | |||
== History == | |||
Humans share a common ancestor with chimpanzees and bonobos, their closest living relatives, from around 6 to 7 million years ago. The genus ''Homo'' appeared around 2.8 million years ago, and the oldest known fossils of ''Homo sapiens'', found in Morocco, are around 300,000 years old. | |||
Several other human species existed alongside early ''Homo sapiens'', and some interbred with them. Traces of their DNA survive in many living humans today: | |||
* '''Neanderthals''' (''Homo neanderthalensis''), of Europe and western Asia, extinct around 40,000 years ago. | |||
* '''Denisovans''', known mostly from DNA, who lived across Asia. | |||
* '''''Homo floresiensis''''', a small-bodied species from the island of Flores, in present-day Indonesia. | |||
Humans spread out of Africa from around 70,000 to 50,000 years ago. Farming began independently in several regions from around 12,000 years ago, followed by the first cities, and writing around 5,200 years ago. The first crewed spaceflight took place in 1961, and the first crewed landing on Earth's moon in 1969. | |||
== Behind the scenes == | == Behind the scenes == | ||
* Written as the example species page for this wiki. | <!-- Out-of-universe notes go here: inspirations, design notes, ideas that aren't decided yet. --> | ||
* Written as the example species page for this wiki, using real-world facts about humans. | |||
Latest revision as of 08:49, 23 October 2026
Humans (Homo sapiens) are carbon-based, bipedal primates native to Earth, the third planet of the Sol system. They are the only surviving members of the genus Homo, and are distinguished by their large brains, fine manual dexterity, and capacity for complex language and culture.
Humans are the most widespread large animal on their homeworld, inhabiting every continent and most of its climates. Through technology rather than physical adaptation, they have also established a continuous presence in low orbit, and have sent crewed missions to their planet's moon.
Description
Humans walk fully upright on two legs, with an S-shaped spine and arched feet that absorb the impact of each step. This frees the forelimbs entirely for manipulation: each hand has four fingers and an opposable thumb capable of both a powerful grip and precise fine movements. Compared to other primates, humans have a flat face, a small jaw, and a large, rounded braincase.
Most of the body is covered in fine, short hair that is barely visible. Thicker hair grows on the scalp, and after puberty in the armpits and groin, and on the face of most males. Skin colour ranges from very dark brown to pale pink, depending on the amount of the pigment melanin; populations that evolved under strong sunlight tend to have darker skin. Adults typically stand 1.5 to 1.9 m tall, with males on average somewhat taller and heavier than females.
Biology
The human brain averages around 1,350 cm³, roughly three times the size expected for a primate of the same body mass. It consumes about 20 percent of the body's energy while making up only 2 percent of its weight.
Humans are exceptional endurance runners. Millions of sweat glands spread across the skin let them shed heat during long exertion, a trait thought to have allowed early humans to hunt by running prey to exhaustion.
Human young are born highly dependent and develop slowly. A single offspring is usual, after a pregnancy of around 9 months, and childhood lasts over a decade before sexual maturity. This long period of care leaves time for each generation to learn language, skills, and culture from the last.
- Diet: omnivorous; humans eat a very wide range of plants and animals, and almost always cook or otherwise process their food.
- Senses: colour vision with three types of cone cells; good hearing; a comparatively weak sense of smell.
- Lifespan: around 70 to 80 years where food and medicine are plentiful. The longest confirmed human life lasted 122 years.
Behaviour
Humans are intensely social, living in families nested within larger communities that can number in the millions. They communicate primarily through spoken language, of which thousands exist, and record it in writing.
Tool use defines the species and its ancestors. Simple stone tools predate Homo sapiens by millions of years; humans added controlled fire, agriculture, metalworking, and eventually machines powered by fossil fuels and electricity.
Habitat and range
Humans first appeared in Africa and are now found on every continent, from equatorial forests to permanent research stations in Antarctica. Almost all live on land, although some cultures have historically lived on boats or along the sea for most of their lives.
Beyond their homeworld, humans have maintained a permanent crewed presence in orbit since 2000, aboard space stations.
History
Humans share a common ancestor with chimpanzees and bonobos, their closest living relatives, from around 6 to 7 million years ago. The genus Homo appeared around 2.8 million years ago, and the oldest known fossils of Homo sapiens, found in Morocco, are around 300,000 years old.
Several other human species existed alongside early Homo sapiens, and some interbred with them. Traces of their DNA survive in many living humans today:
- Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis), of Europe and western Asia, extinct around 40,000 years ago.
- Denisovans, known mostly from DNA, who lived across Asia.
- Homo floresiensis, a small-bodied species from the island of Flores, in present-day Indonesia.
Humans spread out of Africa from around 70,000 to 50,000 years ago. Farming began independently in several regions from around 12,000 years ago, followed by the first cities, and writing around 5,200 years ago. The first crewed spaceflight took place in 1961, and the first crewed landing on Earth's moon in 1969.
Behind the scenes
- Written as the example species page for this wiki, using real-world facts about humans.