Sites: East Africa: Olduvai, Koobi Fora (East Turkana)
South Africa: Sterkfontein, Drimolen Age: Approximately 2.3 to 1.44 mya Type specimen: OH 7 (Olduvai Gorge) Specimens: ER1813, Stw 53, OH 13, OH 16, OH 24 Cranial capacity: average of 631 cm3 Cranial architecture: The characteristics that distinguish this species into a new genus (Homo) are:
Dentition: Posterior teeth decrease in size, although still quite large. Postcranial: Very few postcranial remains have been found. It has been suggested that H. habilis ranged in size from small to large varieties. Also presented with elongated thumbs and shortened fingers for precision grip Environment: Predominantly grassland Length and weight: 32 to 52 kg, 125 to 157 cm Tools: Oldowan tool assemblage - use of tools lead to nickname “handy man”. http://australianmuseum.net.au/image/cast-of-an-oldowan-chopper-showing-area-of-flake-removal Ancestor: possibly A. sediba Descendants: Other early H. sapiens and H. erectus General: Due to an absence of skeletal material, the early Homo time period is not well understood. Many specimens could represent more than one population group of the same species. South African specimens are fragmentary and could be related to either australopithecines or early Homo. Although H habilis was a small hominid, its brain was relatively large. |