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Glite Dictionary
Australopithecus africanus

Australopithecus africanus

9.9
An extinct early human ancestor that lived in southern Africa about three million years ago
  • noun
  • /ˌɔstrəloʊpɪˈθiːkəs əˈfrɪkənəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : australopiteco africanus
  • Researchers believe Australopithecus africanus walked upright and had a mixture of ape and human features.

Examples

  • The famous Taung Child is a specimen of Australopithecus africanus.

  • Fossils of Australopithecus africanus have provided insight into early human evolution.

  • The Australopithecus africanus lived around 3 million years ago.

  • Did the Australopithecus africanus walk upright?

  • Fossils of Australopithecus africanus have provided insight into early human evolution.

  • Researchers believe Australopithecus africanus walked upright and had a mixture of ape and human features.

  • The famous Taung Child is a specimen of Australopithecus africanus.

Surface Forms

Australopithecus africanus singular
Australopithecus africanuses plural

Morphology

Australopithecus + africanus

The genus name 'Australopithecus' already signals an extinct hominid genus and the epithet 'africanus' transparently suggests a connection to Africa, so a learner who knows those constituents can infer this is an African member of that genus. However, precise details (gracile hominid, ~3 million years ago, significance as an early human ancestor) depend on taxonomic conventions and background knowledge rather than simple composition, so full meaning is not wholly predictable for a B1 learner.

Etymology

Australopithecus africanus is a scientific name whose parts are Australopithecus ('southern ape') and africanus ('from Africa'). The name was given because its ape-like fossils were found in southern Africa, so it helps us remember this early human ancestor and where it lived.