
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.

