Paranthropus

American  

[puh-ran-thruh-puhs, par-uhn-throh-puhs] / pəˈræn θrə pəs, ˌpær ənˈθroʊ pəs /

noun

1. an extinct genus of bipedal hominins with massive chewing muscles, large teeth, and thick dental enamel: it may have descended from Australopithecus in Africa about 2.7 million years ago.

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Etymology

Origin of Paranthropus

First recorded in 1935–40; from New Latin: literally “beside man, near man”; equivalent to Greek para- “beside, near” + Greek ánthrōpos “human being”; see para-

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Paranthropus

It also noted that as many as four hominin lineages may have lived in eastern Africa between 3.0 and 2.5 million years ago: early Homo, Paranthropus, A. garhi, and the Ledi Geraru Australopithecus.

From Science Daily ● May 16, 2026

In 2026, a University of Chicago led team reported a 2.6 million year old Paranthropus jaw from Ethiopia's Afar region.

From Science Daily ● May 16, 2026

The study, titled "First Afar Paranthropus fossil expands the distribution of a versatile genus," was published in Nature in January 2026.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 23, 2026

For now, the Paranthropus robustus mystery has grown deeper, more intricate, and infinitely more fascinating.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2025

For nearly 100 years, scientists have been intrigued by the fossils of Paranthropus robustus, a sturdy, distant cousin of early humans.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2025