The Neanderthal ( , also with \/ neÉ - \/ , and \/ - tÉ ` Ë l \/ ) , or Neandertal , was a species of the Homo genus ( type ) ( Homo neanderthalensis or Homo sapiens neanderthalensis ) which lived in Europe and parts of western and central Asia . For some time , scientists have debated whether Neanderthals should be classified as Homo neanderthalensis or `` Homo sapiens neanderthalensis '' , the latter placing Neanderthals as a subspecies of Homo sapiens . Some morphological studies support that Homo neanderthalensis is a separate species and not a subspecies .