Homo Habilis
Homo Habilis
Hominids with a brain absolutely and relatively larger than that of the australopithecines appeared about 2.3 million years ago. These hominids are classified in our own genus: Homo. The earliest species to appear was the Homo Habilis. It was the first of our ancestors to show a significant increase in brain size and also the first to be found associated with stone tools. These characteristics resulted in this species’ placement into the human genus, Homo.
Discovery
The first fossil was found in 1960 when a team led by scientists Louis and Mary Leakey uncovered the fossilized remains of a unique early human at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania.
Because this early human had a combination of features different from those seen in Australopithecus, Louis Leakey, South African scientist Philip Tobias, and British scientist John Napier called these remains a new species: Homo habilis, meaning ‘handy man', because they suspected that it was this slightly larger-brained early human that made the thousands of stone tools also found at Olduvai Gorge.
Physical Features
Homo habilis had a larger brain than earlier human ancestors (Australopithecus) and this is reflected in significant changes to the shape of the skull. However, many other features including limb proportions are similar to those of the earlier australopithecine ancestors.
Body, size and shape: * Most of the body was covered by fur. * Body proportions were similar to those of australopithecines with females growing to about 117 (3,8 feet tall) centimeters and males to about 144 centimeters in height (4,7 feet tall). * They may have also been sexually dimorphic like the australopithecines, as individuals seem to have greatly differed in size.
Weight: * About 47 kg (103 pounds) in males and 34 kg in females (75 pounds). Brain: * Cranial capacity: 600-800 cc brain * The average was 630-640 cubic centimeters in size, representing 1.7 % of their body weight.
Hominids with a brain absolutely and relatively larger than that of the australopithecines appeared about 2.3 million years ago. These hominids are classified in our own genus: Homo. The earliest species to appear was the Homo Habilis. It was the first of our ancestors to show a significant increase in brain size and also the first to be found associated with stone tools. These characteristics resulted in this species’ placement into the human genus, Homo.
Discovery
The first fossil was found in 1960 when a team led by scientists Louis and Mary Leakey uncovered the fossilized remains of a unique early human at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania.
Because this early human had a combination of features different from those seen in Australopithecus, Louis Leakey, South African scientist Philip Tobias, and British scientist John Napier called these remains a new species: Homo habilis, meaning ‘handy man', because they suspected that it was this slightly larger-brained early human that made the thousands of stone tools also found at Olduvai Gorge.
Physical Features
Homo habilis had a larger brain than earlier human ancestors (Australopithecus) and this is reflected in significant changes to the shape of the skull. However, many other features including limb proportions are similar to those of the earlier australopithecine ancestors.
Body, size and shape: * Most of the body was covered by fur. * Body proportions were similar to those of australopithecines with females growing to about 117 (3,8 feet tall) centimeters and males to about 144 centimeters in height (4,7 feet tall). * They may have also been sexually dimorphic like the australopithecines, as individuals seem to have greatly differed in size.
Weight: * About 47 kg (103 pounds) in males and 34 kg in females (75 pounds). Brain: * Cranial capacity: 600-800 cc brain * The average was 630-640 cubic centimeters in size, representing 1.7 % of their body weight.