any of various extinct apelike primates of the genus Australopithecus and related genera, remains of which have been discovered in southern and E Africa. Some species are estimated to be over 4.5 million years old
See also zinjanthropus
adjective
2.
of or relating to any of these primates
Word origin
C20: from New Latin Australopithecus, from Latin austrālis southern, austral1 + Greek pithēkos ape