Homo habilis is a species of the Hominini tribe, in which they lived from roughly 2.33 to 1.44 million years ago. They were the earliest of our ancestors to show a huge increase in brain size be found working with stone tools. These characteristics resulted in them being placed into the human genus, Homo. However this is now being contested because new fossil discoveries show this species shares some important physical similarities with members of the Australopithecus genus. '
The word 'habilis' in Latin word means 'handy' or 'skilful'.
The discovery of this species started in 1959 when two teeth were uncovered. Parts of a boy's skeleton were located at the site the next year and additional fossils from other individuals continued to be found. Their brain size, features of their hands and feet, and evidence that they used stone tools all suggested that a new type of human species has been found.
Their body size and shape were around 110 centimetres tall for females and 130 centimetres for males in height.
Their brain averaged around 610 cubic centimetres which represented 1.7% of their own body weight.
The skull became fuller and more rounded due to the expansion of the brain. The beginnings of a slight forehead was forming and the face had a small, arched brow ridge. The hole for a spinal cord was located at the centre of the skull base showing that this species walked on two legs.
Their jaw was smaller than those found in earlier species, teeth were arranged in a more rounded arc similar to those of a modern human's and their teeth have become more human like.
Their arms and legs were relatively short, their finger bones were slightly curved and the finger bone proportions suggested the human like ability to form a precision grip.
The Homo habilis species may have been the first of our ancestors to make and use stone tools. This showed a huge change to mental capabilities and a shift towards new survival strategies.
They were believed to have lived in a predominantly grassland environment. Chemical analysis suggests that this species was mainly vegetarian but included some meat in its diet
The word 'habilis' in Latin word means 'handy' or 'skilful'.
The discovery of this species started in 1959 when two teeth were uncovered. Parts of a boy's skeleton were located at the site the next year and additional fossils from other individuals continued to be found. Their brain size, features of their hands and feet, and evidence that they used stone tools all suggested that a new type of human species has been found.
Their body size and shape were around 110 centimetres tall for females and 130 centimetres for males in height.
Their brain averaged around 610 cubic centimetres which represented 1.7% of their own body weight.
The skull became fuller and more rounded due to the expansion of the brain. The beginnings of a slight forehead was forming and the face had a small, arched brow ridge. The hole for a spinal cord was located at the centre of the skull base showing that this species walked on two legs.
Their jaw was smaller than those found in earlier species, teeth were arranged in a more rounded arc similar to those of a modern human's and their teeth have become more human like.
Their arms and legs were relatively short, their finger bones were slightly curved and the finger bone proportions suggested the human like ability to form a precision grip.
The Homo habilis species may have been the first of our ancestors to make and use stone tools. This showed a huge change to mental capabilities and a shift towards new survival strategies.
They were believed to have lived in a predominantly grassland environment. Chemical analysis suggests that this species was mainly vegetarian but included some meat in its diet