Australopithecus africanus

[ aw-strey-loh-pith-i-kuhs af-ri-kah-nuhs, -kan-uhs, -puh-thee-kuhs, aw-struh-loh- ]

noun

1. an extinct species of gracile hominin, formerly known as Plesianthropus transvaalensis, that lived in southern Africa about 2–3.3 million years ago.
2. a fossil belonging to this species.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Australopithecus africanus¹

First recorded in 1920–25; from New Latin Australopithecus ( def ) + Latin āfricānus “African.” See African