Neanderthalensis, like Sapien, is a species name. When we talk about these things in the context of evolutionary biology, those precise terms tend to work better than a more broad and abstract word like "Humans."
But, in articles like this, you see mixed jargons. One academic source may specialize in evolutionary biology and its particular jargon, and another source may specialize in anthropology. Their disparate perspectives and jargons are filtered through the lens of a journalist who specializes in neither field.
Each group assigns a different meaning to these words.
There is a precise and correct word in the academic context for each category of early hominids, but it probably isn't realistic to expect writers to use jargon from a field other than the one they specialize in.
But, in articles like this, you see mixed jargons. One academic source may specialize in evolutionary biology and its particular jargon, and another source may specialize in anthropology. Their disparate perspectives and jargons are filtered through the lens of a journalist who specializes in neither field.
Each group assigns a different meaning to these words.
There is a precise and correct word in the academic context for each category of early hominids, but it probably isn't realistic to expect writers to use jargon from a field other than the one they specialize in.