Our species is Homo sapiens, commonly referred to as 'sapiens'. Sapiens is a Latin word meaning 'WISE' or 'INTELLIGENT'. Homo sapiens is the only surviving species of the genus Homo, which includes extinct species such as Homo neanderthalensis and Homo erectus. Sapiens are believed to have evolved in Africa about 200, 000 years ago and are now the dominant species on Earth. They are characterized by their large brains, bipedalism, and complex language and culture.