Anatomy
Small body, relatively larger brain than australopiths and hands capable of precision manipulation.
COMPREHENSIVE INTERACTIVE REPORT · Medium
Homo habilis
Early Homo2.4–1.4 million years ago · Eastern and southern Africa
Current synthesis
A variable early Homo grouping associated historically with larger brains and Oldowan tools.
Ecology & food
Flexible use of woodland and open environments.
Technology
Oldowan stone tools occur in the same broad record, but species-level authorship is rarely secure.
Clothing evidence
No securely attributed evidence of made clothing. Reconstruction is shown without garments.
Behavior & social evidence
Carcass processing, marrow access and socially learned tool production are plausible.
Relationships
May include more than one early Homo population and overlaps with Homo erectus-grade forms.
Controversies
Which fossils belong in the taxon and whether H. rudolfensis should be separate.
What reaches forward
Exposes the difficulty of drawing a clean boundary around the origin of Homo.
SOURCE DESK