Homo habilis

[ hoh-moh hab-uh-lis ]

noun

1. an extinct species of upright East African hominin having some advanced humanlike characteristics, dated as being from about 1.5 million to more than 2 million years old and proposed as an early form of Homo leading to modern humans.
2. a fossil belonging to this species.

Homo habilis

/ ˈhæbɪlɪs /

noun

1. an extinct species of primitive man, the first to use stone tools

Homo habilis

/ hăb′ə-ləs /

1. An extinct species of early humans, known from fossils found in eastern Africa and often considered to be the first member of the genus Homo. It is associated with stone tools of the Oldowan culture. Homo habilis existed between about 2.5 and 1.6 million years ago and overlapped with late australopithecines and other hominids whose relationship to each other and to the later Homo erectus are uncertain.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Homo habilis¹

First recorded in 1960–65; from New Latin: literally “skillful man, handy man,” because this species was thought to represent the first maker of stone tools. The oldest stone tools, however, are currently dated slightly older than the oldest evidence of the genus Homo

Word History and Origins

Origin of Homo habilis¹

New Latin, from Latin homo man + habilis able to handle, skilled

Example Sentences

“It’s a convincing case,” Ward says, “but it’s just one mandible until about 2 million years ago,” when at least two members of the genus, Homo habilis and H. erectus, appear elsewhere in eastern Africa.

From Science Magazine

When David Schwimmer's Ross, who worked as a palaeontologist, says: "No, Homo habilis was erect. Australopithecus was never fully erect," Chandler responds: "Well, maybe he was nervous."

From BBC

While Homo habilis and Homo rudolfensis probably only ate a lizard here and there or the meaty remains left behind by other predators, Homo erectus was a hunter.

From Scientific American

Homo habilis was discovered in Tanzania in the early 1960s by a group led by Louis and Mary Leakey, a married pair of paleoanthropologists.

From New York Times

Homo habilis, the first members of our genus, left sharpened stones scattered across Africa.

From The Guardian