Why is it that sometimes I read that we – humans – belong to the ‘homo sapiens’ and other times to the ‘homo sapiens sapiens’? What is the difference between the two and which species do we belong to?

Answer

Dear Bram,

there is/was discussion whether our species and the Neanderthal belong to the same species (Homo sapiens), or are two separate species. In case we belong to the same species, write H. sapiens sapiens and H. sapiens neanderthalensis, where the third member of the name indicates the subspecies. In case we are two separate species, write H. sapiens and H. neanderthalensis.

Currently there is consensus to consider us as 2 separate species, so now you should write H. sapiens.

You may also be interested in the hypothesis that our ancestors (after splitting off from the chimpanzee about 5 million years ago) adapted to a swimming and diving life, and that this could explain why we lost our fur, among other things , and have a subcutaneous fat layer and voluntary respiration:

http://aquatic-human-ancestor.org/

Mario.Vaneechoutte@UGent.be