Human-like status? Not all disheartened (9)

I believe the answer is:

placental

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'human-like status? not all disheartened' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'like status? not all disheartened' is the wordplay.
'like status?' becomes 'place' (place is a kind of status. I am not sure about the 'like' bit.).
'not' becomes 'n't' (synonyms).
'disheartened' says to hollow out the word (remove centre letters) (the middle or heart is removed).
'all' with its middle taken out is 'al'.
'place'+'nt'+'al'='PLACENTAL'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for placental that I've seen is " Like a category of mammals".)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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