australopithecine
UK[ɒˌstreɪləʊˈpɪθɪsiːn]US[ɔːˌstreɪloʊˈpɪθɪsiːn]
n
Any of several extinct hominids of the genus Australopithecus or related genera, known from fossil remains found in Africa, which walked upright and had relatively small brains.
adj
Of or relating to the genus Australopithecus or its members.
Morpheme Breakdown
australo
pithec
ine
australo
southern
pithec
ape
ine
pertaining to
Etymology
The term was coined in the early 20th century as a scientific Latin label for a genus of early hominids. It directly combines the Latin root for "southern" (australis) with the Greek root for "ape" (pithēkos), followed by the adjectival suffix -ine. The name "southern ape" was given because the first fossils were discovered in South Africa. While the literal meaning is "pertaining to the southern ape," the term in modern paleoanthropology refers specifically to a diverse group of bipedal, small-brained ancestors in the human lineage, distinct from other apes.
Analysis
Structure: australo (southern) + pithec (ape) + ine (pertaining to)
- australo: From Latin australis (southern). In this word, it functions as a combining form meaning "southern."
- pithec: From Greek pithēkos (ape). In this word, it functions as a combining form meaning "ape."
- ine: A suffix of Latin origin (-inus) used to form adjectives meaning "of or pertaining to," or nouns meaning "member of a group."
Examples
The famous fossil "Lucy" is classified as an australopithecine.
Australopithecine fossils provide crucial evidence for human evolution.
Researchers debate the exact phylogenetic relationships among the various australopithecine species.