Australopithecus africanus*: Meaning and Definition of

Australopith'ecus af•ri•ca'nus

Pronunciation: (af"ri-kä'nus, -kan'us), [key]

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. See illus. under