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Glite Dictionary
Homo heidelbergensis

Homo heidelbergensis

9.9
An extinct human species from Europe and Africa that used simple tools
  • noun
  • /ˈhoʊmoʊ haɪdəlˈbɜrɡənˌsɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Homo heidelbergensis
  • Fossils of Homo heidelbergensis have been found in both Europe and Africa, revealing its wide habitat range.

Examples

  • The discovery of tools at the site indicates that Homo heidelbergensis was capable of complex behaviors.

  • The discovery suggests that hyenas scavenged the remains of Homo heidelbergensis.

    Academic text (2009)

  • Researchers have studied the skeletal remains of Homo heidelbergensis to understand its evolutionary significance.

Synonyms

Heidelberg man
vsHomo heidelbergensis
  • Specialized
9.9

An early human who lived in Europe long ago during the ice age

is described more broadly adding African presence and ancestral link to later humans

Surface Forms

Homo heidelbergensis singular
Homo heidelbergensis plural

Morphology

Homo + heidelbergensis

The first element 'Homo' clearly signals the human genus, and the second element is a Latinized place-derived epithet (heidelbergensis) implying origin/association with Heidelberg, so a learner who knows both parts can infer this is a named human species. However, recognizing it as an extinct prehistoric species and the taxonomic convention behind the compound requires some domain knowledge, so the relation is only partially predictable.

Etymology

The name Homo heidelbergensis comes from Latin and a place name: Homo means 'man' and heidelbergensis means 'from Heidelberg', the German town where the first fossils were found. So the name literally means 'man from Heidelberg' and is used today for an extinct early human that lived in Europe and parts of Africa.