1. Plural of Pithecanthropus; extinct hominins of the genus Pithecanthropus, known from fossil remains found in Java and characterized by an upright posture and relatively large brain capacity.
Usage: paleontology; historical taxonomy; The genus Pithecanthropus is now often classified within Homo erectus in modern taxonomy.

Examples

• The pithecanthropi fossils discovered in Java provided crucial evidence for human evolution.
• Scientists studied the pithecanthropi remains to understand the development of bipedalism.
• The pithecanthropi are considered transitional forms between earlier hominins and modern humans.
• Fossil evidence of pithecanthropi shows they used simple stone tools.
• The brain size of pithecanthropi was significantly larger than that of earlier hominins.