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

Paranthropus has long been labeled the "nutcracker" genus, a nickname inspired by its massive jaws, thick tooth enamel, and oversized molars.

From Science Daily • Jan. 23, 2026

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

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

From Science Daily • Nov. 1, 2025

“If Homo erectus ate considerably more animal foods than Paranthropus boisei, that alone would guarantee rather different niches,” Sponheimer told Salon in a phone interview.

From Salon • Nov. 29, 2024

The prints may offer new clues about Paranthropus’s stature and the shape of its hips and knees, and help illuminate how Paranthropus and Homo managed to coexist, he says.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 27, 2024