What is another word for australopithecine?
Pronunciation: [ˈɒstɹɐlˌɒpɪθˌɛsiːn] (IPA) 
Australopithecine is a term given to extinct hominids that lived in Africa approximately 4 to 2 million years ago. Synonyms for australopithecine include australopithecus, man-ape, and southern ape. The genus Australopithecus includes several species such as A. afarensis, A. africanus, and A. sediba. These species are commonly referred to as the earliest known relatives of modern humans. Australopithecines are characterized by their small brain size, bipedalism, and ape-like physical features. The study of australopithecines is critical in understanding human evolution, as they are believed to be the immediate precursors to the genus Homo.
