Anthropoidea
- noun
- /ˌænθrəˈpɔɪdiə/
- Specialized
- The study of Anthropoidea helps us understand the evolution of our closest relatives.
Examples
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No more grasping, selfish, and dishonest mammal, indeed, is known to students of the Anthropoidea.
Blog text (34) -
The Anthropoidea group is significant in primate research and conservation efforts.
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Researchers have classified Anthropoidea as a group that includes both monkeys and apes.
Surface Forms
Morphology
Anthropoidea = anthropoid (semi-transparent) = anthropo + oidea
Formed from the combining form 'anthropo-' (human) plus the taxonomic suffix '-oidea'; the components signal 'human/ape-like group' but the taxonomic suffix is specialized vocabulary.
Etymology
Anthropoidea comes from the Greek root anthropos meaning 'human' and the ending -oidea meaning 'like' or 'form'. So Anthropoidea literally says 'human-like' animals, which fits because this scientific group includes monkeys, apes, and humans.