Zinjanthropus

[ zin-jan-thruh-puhs, zin-jan-throh- ]

noun

1. a genus to which Paranthropus boisei was formerly assigned.

zinjanthropus

/ zɪnˈdʒænθrəpəs /

noun

1. a type of australopithecine, Australopithecus boisei (formerly Zinjanthropus boisei ), remains of which were discovered in the Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania in 1959

zinjanthropus

/ zĭn-jăn′thrə-pəs,zĭn′jăn-thrō′- /

1. An extinct hominid postulated from bones found in Tanzania in 1959 and originally designated Zinjanthropus boisei by Louis S.B. Leakey. It was later shown to be an australopithecine and renamed Australopithecus boisei.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Zinjanthropus¹

First recorded in 1955–60; from New Latin, from Arabic zinj, an area in East Africa + Greek ánthrōpos “human being, man”

Word History and Origins

Origin of Zinjanthropus¹

C20: New Latin, from Arabic Zinj East Africa + Greek anthrōpos man

Example Sentences

It was Mary's 1959 discovery of the Zinjanthropus cranium at Olduvai that captured worldwide attention and made the Leakeys a household name.

From Time Magazine Archive

Following the success of Zinjanthropus, Louis began spending less and less time at Olduvai, which became Mary's domain.

From Time Magazine Archive

He was sure that Zinjanthropus was a toolmaker because crude stone tools were found near his remains.

From Time Magazine Archive

He now believes that Zinjanthropus was an Australopithecine, a nonhuman vegetarian of low intelligence and not a toolmaker.

From Time Magazine Archive

Despite his small brain size, he had a fairly high forehead, not a flat one like that of Zinjanthropus.

From Time Magazine Archive