a genus of higher biped fossil primates, whose bone remains have been found in East and South Africa. It closely resembles the group Australopithecus, and together the two form the family (subfamily) Australopithicinae. Paranthropus was larger than Australopithecus and was primarily vegetarian, as can be deduced from the structure of the molar teeth. He had a relatively large brain (averaging 510 cc), which externally resembled the brain of modern anthropoid apes. Paranthropus lived between 4 and 1 million years ago.