Homo sapien

Human camaraderie among Dr. Jane Katz, Captain Timothy Johnson, Shelley Taylor-Smith and Skip Storch

Humans from the Catalina Channel Swimming Federation being recognized for achievement at the United Nations, photo courtesy of Skip Storch

Human speaking at international symposiums, photo of Yuko Matsuzaki courtesy of Skip Storch

Female and male swimmers

Male swimmer

Public speaking at the United Nations - photo by Skip Storch

noun - Humans (known taxonomically as Homo sapiens, Latin for "wise man" or "knowing man") are the only living species in the Homo genus. Homo sapiens are anatomically modern humans who originated in Africa about 200,000 years ago and reached full behavioral modernity around 50,000 years ago. A small subset of homo sapiens can swim and an even smaller subset refers to themselves as open water swimmers.

Humans have a highly developed brain and are capable of abstract reasoning, language, introspection, and problem solving. This mental capability, combined with an erect body carriage that frees the hands for manipulating objects, has allowed humans to make far greater use of tools than any other living species on Earth. Other higher-level thought processes of humans, such as self-awareness, rationality, and sapience, are considered to be defining features of what constitutes a "person".

Humans are uniquely adept at utilizing systems of communication for self-expression, the exchange of ideas, and organization. Humans create complex social structures composed of many cooperating and competing groups, from families to nations. Social interactions between humans have established an extremely wide variety of values, social norms, and rituals, which together form the basis of human society. With individuals widespread in every continent except Antarctica, humans are a cosmopolitan species. As of November 2011, the human population was estimated by the United Nations Population Division to be about 7 billion, and by the United States Census Bureau to be about 6.97 billion.

Humans are noted for their desire to understand and influence their environment, seeking to explain and manipulate phenomena through science, philosophy, mythology, and religion. This natural curiosity has led to the development of advanced tools and skills, which are passed down culturally; humans are the only species known to build fires, cook their food, clothe themselves, create art, and use numerous other technologies.

External links

• Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh No. Sharks, Jellyfish and Snakes, Oh Yes
• Ten Really Bad Things To Avoid In The Open Water
• Australian Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Class Of 2020/2021
• The Personality Traits And Astrology Of Swimmers
• Personal Ads – Meeting Others In The Open Water World
• We Are All Homo Genuses In Open Water
• Top 10 Things To Fear In The Open Water
• Dangerous Creatures For Open Water Swimmers
• Taxonomic Hierarchy In The Open Water
• Personal Ads - Meeting Others In The Open Water Swimming World
• 100 Things Every Open Water Swimmer Should Know
• World Open Water Swimming Association
• 5 Dangerous Things To Let Your Children Do In Water
• Marathoning From Mozambique To Madagascar
• Men Are Animals
• Opening Day Kicks Off Summer Season
• 10 Creatures To Watch For In The Open Water
• Dolphin See Dolphin Do