platyrrhine

[ plat-i-rahyn, -rin ]

adjective

1. Anthropology. having a broad, flat-bridged nose.
2. belonging or pertaining to the subdivision of simians that comprises New World monkeys, characterized by noses flatter than those of other simians and with widely separated, side-facing nostrils. Compare catarrhine.

noun

1. Anthropology. a platyrrhine hominin.
2. a platyrrhine animal.

platyrrhine

/ ˈplætɪˌraɪn; ˌplætɪˈrɪnɪən /

adjective

1. (esp of New World monkeys) having widely separated nostrils opening to the side of the face
2. (of humans) having an unusually short wide nose

noun

1. an animal or person with this characteristic

platyrrhine

/ plăt′ĭ-rīn′ /

1. Of or relating to the New World monkeys, distinguished from the Old World monkeys by a broad nasal septum and widely separated nostrils that generally open to the side.

Word History and Origins

Origin of platyrrhine¹

First recorded in 1835–45; from New Latin Platyrrhīnī, plural of platyrrhīnus, from Greek platyrrhīn(os), “flat nosed, broad nosed,” equivalent to platý(s) + -rhīn- “nosed, flat nosed,” adj. derivative of rhī́s, stem rhīn- nose, snout; platy-, rhino- ( def ); catarrhine, haplorhine ( def ), strepsirrhine ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of platyrrhine¹

C19: from New Latin platyrrhinus, from platy- + -rrhinus, from Greek rhis nose

Example Sentences

The platyrrhine and catarrhine monkeys have their primitive ancestor among extinct forms of the Lemuridae.

From Project Gutenberg

This family embraces the typical Platyrrhine Monkeys, and to it belongs the great majority of the American species.

From Project Gutenberg

From this feature these Monkeys have been described by some naturalists as Platyrrhine or Megarrhine.

From Project Gutenberg

The skull is dolichocephalic with an average cranial index of 72, prognathous and platyrrhine.

From Project Gutenberg