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Anthropologists generally believe that Homo habilis was the earliest species of
the homo genus to evolve from Australopithecus afarensis. The name Homo habilis
is derived from a Latin term meaning "handy man" or "skillful person". It
is believed that Homo habilis lived approximately 2.5 to 1.8 million years ago.
Homo habilis, though of the same genus as the modern Homo sapiens, nevertheless
shared more similar physical characteristics to Australopithecus afarensis. Homo
habilis had a short body with disproportionately long arms when compared to modern humans.
An evolutionary feature of Homo habilis that begins to differentiate him from Australopithecus
afarensis is a lesser protrusion of the skull. Homo habilis had a brain approximately
half the size of the modern Homo sapien. The study of archeological sites once inhabited by
Homo habilis reveal that this human ancestor utilized primitive stone tools.
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