‖Pith′e‐can‐thro″pus (pĭth′ē̍‐kăn‐thrō″pŭs), prop. n. [NL.; Gr. πίθηκοσ ape + ἄνθρωποσ man.] 1. A hypothetical genus of primates intermediate between man and the anthropoid apes. Haeckel.
2. 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. Also [pl.-thropi (�)], an animal of this genus. — Pith′e‐can″thrope (#), n. — Pith′e‐can″thro‐poid (#), a.