australopithecine

• Australopithecine

Originally in reference to a now-obsolete subfamily Australopithecinae, formed in New Latin, from Latin austrālis (“southern”) + Ancient Greek πίθηκος (píthēkos, “ape”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌɒstɹələ(ʊ)ˈpɪθɪsiːn/

australopithecine (plural australopithecines)

1. (anthropology, paleontology) Any of several extinct hominids, belonging to the genera Australopithecus, Paranthropus when seen as distinct, and sometimes other closely related genera. [from 20th c.]
   • 1981, William Irwin Thompson, The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light: Mythology, Sexuality and the Origins of Culture, London: Rider/Hutchinson & Co., page 28:

     It is as if there were enshrined in these legends a racial memory of the Australopithicines who came close but never did make it to full humanity.

   • 2003, Bill Bryson, A Short History of Nearly Everything, BCA, published 2003, page 391:

     Australopithecines came in several varieties, some slender and gracile, like Raymond Dart's Taung child, others more sturdy and robust, but all were capable of walking upright.

   • 2011, Chris Stringer, The Origin of Our Species, Penguin, published 2012, page 151:

     Caspari and Lee carried out comparisons ranging from ancient hominins such as australopithecines through to Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons, assessing the ratios of young adults to old adults.

australopithecine (comparative more australopithecine, superlative most australopithecine)

1. (anthropology, paleontology) Of or pertaining to these hominids.

• australopith (depending on classification)