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australopithecine
[ aw-strey-loh-pith-uh-seen, -sahyn, -puh-thee-sin, -sahyn, aw-struh-loh- ]
noun
- (sometimes initial capital letter) a member of the extinct genus Australopithecus.
adjective
- of, relating to, or resembling the genus Australopithecus or its members.
australopithecine
/ ˌɒstrələʊˈpɪθɪˌsiːn /
noun
- any of various extinct apelike primates of the genus Australopithecus and related genera, remains of which have been discovered in southern and E Africa. Some species are estimated to be over 4.5 million years old See also zinjanthropus
adjective
- of or relating to any of these primates
australopithecine
/ ô-strā′lō-pĭth′ĭ-sēn′ /
- Any of several early hominids of the genus Australopithecus of eastern and southern Africa, known from fossils dating from about 4 million to about 1 million years ago. The most complete australopithecine skeleton found so far, named Lucy by its discoverers, is estimated to be just over 3 million years old. While many scientists believe that australopithecines are ancestors of modern humans, not enough fossils have yet been found to establish any direct descent.
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Word History and Origins
Origin of australopithecine1
First recorded in 1935–40; Australopithec(us) + -ine 1
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Word History and Origins
Origin of australopithecine1
C20: from New Latin Australopithecus, from Latin austrālis southern, austral 1+ Greek pithēkos ape
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