Australopithecus africanus

[ af-ri-kah-nuh s, -kan-uh s ]
/ ˌæf rɪˈkɑ nəs, -ˈkæn əs /

noun

an extinct species of gracile hominid, formerly known as Plesianthropus transvaalensis, that lived in southern Africa about three million years ago.
a fossil belonging to this species.

Origin of Australopithecus africanus

From New Latin, dating back to 1925; see origin at African