Homo habilis ("handy man") is an extinct species of archaic human from the Early Pleistocene of East and South Africa about 2.3–1.65 million years ago (mya). Upon species description in 1964, H.

At some stage the hominids split off from the apes and began to develop one of the first and perhaps most important human characteristics ... recent ancestor - Homo habilis or 'man, the toolmaker ...

The most primitive hominid yet found, this species has more chimpanzee-like features than any other ... boisei walked upright. Homo habilis, which actually means "handy man," is apparently the ...

"We have discovered a new population of prehistoric humans whose skulls are an unusual ... and some shared anatomical features with early Homo erectusor Homo habilis, which fell into extinction ...