The Collaborative International Dictionary
Pithecanthropus \Pith`e*can*thro"pus\ (p[i^]th`[-e]*k[a^]n*thr[=o]"p[u^]s), prop. n. [NL.; Gr. pi`qhkos ape + 'a`nqrwpos man.]
A hypothetical genus of primates intermediate between man and the anthropoid apes.
--Haeckel.A genus consisting of an extinct primate ( Pithecanthropus erectus) apparently intermediate between man and the existing anthropoid apes, known from bones first found in Java (hence called Java man) in 1891-92, and other bones found later. The species was renamed Homo erectus around 1960. The Javan bones are believed to be from 1.6 to 1.9 million years old, and include a thigh bone of the human type, two molar teeth intermediate between those of man and the anthropoids, and the calvaria of the skull, indicating a brain capacity of about 900 cubic centimeters, and resembling in form that of the Neanderthal man. Additional specimens of what are considerd as variants of the species have been found in China, Africa, and Europe. Homo erectus is currently believed to have evolved in Africa from Homo habilis, the first member of the genus Homo. Anatomically and physiologically, Homo erectus resembles contemporary humans except for having a stouter bone structure. Also [pl. -thropi], an animal of this genus. -- Pith`e*can"thrope, n. -- Pith`e*can"thro*poid, a.
Wikipedia
Homo habilis (meaning "handy man" or "able man") is a species of the tribe Hominini, during the Gelasian and early Calabrian stages of the Pleistocene period, which lived between roughly 2.8 and 1.5 million years ago.
A team led by scientists Louis and Mary Leakey uncovered the fossilized remains during the time frame of 1960-1963 at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania; these fossils were speculated to be a new species, and called Homo habilis ('handy man'), because they suspected that it was this slightly larger-brained early human that made the thousands of stone tools also found at Olduvai Gorge.
In its appearance and morphology, H. habilis is the least similar to modern humans of all species in the genus Homo (except the equally controversial H. rudolfensis), and its classification as Homo has been the subject of controversial debate since its first proposal in the 1960s.
Usage examples of "homo habilis".
The Penultimate's defenses wouldn't kill him, if he believed Roxanny's analysis: he would be seen as a wandering Homo habilis.
This day's activities show the manner Homo habilis used his tools and his wits to survive in a sometimes hostile environment.
What he needed to know was how to handle a tribe of Homo habilis, alive, fighting and breeding, should he crest a hillside on the Red Moon and discover them&mdash.
What he needed to know was how to handle a tribe of Homo habilis, alive, fighting and breeding, should he crest a hillside on the Red Moon and discover them -- or vice versa.