australopithecine

Other forms: australopithecines

Definitions of australopithecine

1. noun

   any of several extinct humanlike bipedal primates with relatively small brains of the genus Australopithecus; from 1 to 4 million years ago
   types:

   Australopithecus afarensis

   fossils found in Ethiopia; from 3.5 to 4 million years ago

   Australopithecus africanus

   gracile hominid of southern Africa; from about 3 million years ago

   Australopithecus boisei

   large-toothed hominid of eastern Africa; from 1 to 2 million years ago

   Zinjanthropus, genus Zinjanthropus

   genus to which Australopithecus boisei was formerly assigned

   Australopithecus robustus

   large-toothed hominid of southern Africa; from 1.5 to 2 million years ago; formerly Paranthropus

   Paranthropus, genus Paranthropus

   former classification for Australopithecus robustus

   type of:

   hominid

   a primate of the family Hominidae
2. adjective

   of or belonging to the hominid genus Australopithecus