-thropi

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Pithecanthropus \Pith`e*can*thro"pus\
     (p[i^]th`[-e]*k[a^]n*thr[=o]"p[u^]s), prop. n. [NL.; Gr.
     pi`qhkos ape + 'a`nqrwpos man.]
     1. A hypothetical genus of primates intermediate between man
        and the anthropoid apes. --Haeckel.
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]


  
     2. A genus consisting of an extinct primate ({Pithecanthropus
        erectus}) apparently intermediate between man and the
        existing anthropoid apes, known from bones first found in
        Java (hence called {Java man}) in 1891-92, and other bones
        found later. The species was renamed {Homo erectus} around
        1960. The Javan bones are believed to be from 1.6 to 1.9
        million years old, and include a thigh bone of the human
        type, two molar teeth intermediate between those of man
        and the anthropoids, and the calvaria of the skull,
        indicating a brain capacity of about 900 cubic
        centimeters, and resembling in form that of the
        Neanderthal man. Additional specimens of what are
        considerd as variants of the species have been found in
        China, Africa, and Europe. {Homo erectus} is currently
        believed to have evolved in Africa from {Homo habilis},
        the first member of the genus {Homo}. Anatomically and
        physiologically, {Homo erectus} resembles contemporary
        humans except for having a stouter bone structure. Also
        [pl. {-thropi}], an animal of this genus. --
        {Pith`e*can"thrope}, n. -- {Pith`e*can"thro*poid}, a.
        [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]