Human evolution - Homo Habilis [part.5]
Before the discovery and confirmation of H. gautengensis as the oldest homo species, Homo habilis is considered the oldest species of the genus homo. Literally meaning 'skilled man', this is because habilis is known to have been able to use stone tools and possibly from animal bones - evident from the findings of the tool around the first fossil findings.
Habilis dates from a period of about 2.4 to 1.5 million years ago, thought to have evolved in southern and eastern Africa. Habilis has many similarities with Australopithecus, its face still primitive but not as prominent as australopithecines. The back teeth are smaller than Australopithecus, but larger than modern humans. Its brain volume is larger than Australopithecus, ranging from 500 to 800 cc. Height ranges from 127 cm with a weight of 45 kg (women are estimated to be smaller). Habilis also has a longer arm ratio than from modern humans.
It remains to be debated whether habilis is a direct ancestor of modern humans, in this case as the ancestor of ergaster. Further findings tend to regard habilis as a separate evolution.
