Australopithecus africanus

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

/ ɔˌstreɪ loʊˈpɪθ ɪ kəs ˌæf rɪˈkɑ nəs, -ˈkæn əs, -pəˈθi kəs, ˌɔ strə loʊ- /

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noun

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

a fossil belonging to this species.

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Origin of Australopithecus africanus

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