anthropopithecus
|an-thro-po-pi-the-cus|
/ˌænθrəpəˈpɪθəkəs/
human-like ape (obsolete taxonomic name)
Etymology
'anthropopithecus' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'anthropos' and 'pithekos', where 'anthropos' meant 'human' and 'pithekos' meant 'ape'.
'anthropopithecus' was coined in 19th-century scientific nomenclature as a genus name for certain apes or fossil remains; over time those species and specimens were reassigned to modern genera such as 'Pan' (for chimpanzees) or to fossil genera like 'Australopithecus', rendering 'anthropopithecus' obsolete in current taxonomy.
Initially, it meant 'human-ape' as a formal genus label; over time it evolved into a historical/obsolete taxonomic term rather than a valid modern genus.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an obsolete taxonomic genus name formerly used for certain apes (historically applied to chimpanzees or to some fossil hominid remains now reassigned to other genera).
In older zoological literature, specimens were sometimes placed in the genus anthropopithecus, but modern taxonomy no longer uses this designation.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/26 18:00