add. ·noun an animal of this genus.
2. pithecanthropus ·add. ·noun a hypothetical genus of primates intermediate between man and the anthropoid apes.
3. pithecanthropus ·add. ·noun a genus consisting of an primate (p. erectus) apparently intermediate between man and the existing anthropoid apes, known from bones of a single individual found in java (hence called java man) in 1891-92. these bones 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.