Definition of homo habilis in English English dictionary
(Latin; "dexterous man") Extinct species of early hominid that inhabited parts of sub-Saharan Africa
5-1.5 million years ago and is generally regarded as the earliest member of the genus Homo. H. habilis remains were first discovered in 1959 and 1960 at Olduvai Gorge in northern Tanzania; additional remains have since been found in the Lake Turkana region of northern Kenya and, arguably, at Sterkfontein in South Africa. The cranial capacity of H. habilis ranged from 600 to 800 cc. Limb bones suggest that the species walked efficiently bipedally, and the fossil of a hand suggests that H. habilis was capable of precise manipulation of objects. Crude tools found along with H. habilis remains provide further evidence that this species could shape stone. See also human evolution; Oldowan industry
extinct species of upright east African hominid having some advanced humanlike characteristics