Homo is the genus that includes modern humans and their close relatives. The genus is estimated to be between 1.5 and 2.5 million years old. All species except Homo sapiens (modern humans) are extinct. Homo neanderthalensis, traditionally considered the last surviving relative, died out 30,000 years ago while recent evidence suggests that Homo floresiensis lived as recently as 12,000 years ago.
Some scientists argue that prehistoric �apes� should be included as part of the homo genus, others argue that there are too many anatomical differences for them to be included and they therefore form a separate evolutionary species.