ANT 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Homo Habilis, Australopithecine, Brain Size
Document Summary
Relatively larger brain than that of the australopithecine. More evidence of socio-cultural behaviours tools, art, etc. Homo habilis translates roughly to "handy man" Found in east africa about 2. 5-2. 8 million years ago. This species classification as a member of the homo genus is contentious homo erectus. Thought to be the first hominin species to leave africa about 1. 8mya-143,000ya. Generally accepted that h. erectus descended from h. habilis. The oldest hominin with modern human-like body proportions. Increased body size as well as elongated legs and shorter arms. H. erectus had an even larger brain: ~60% of the size of modern h. sapiens. A main difference between the early hominins and early homos. Brain expands (increases) in size from early hominins to early homo. Expensive tissue hypothesis (aiello & wheeler, 1995) Think of a brain as expensive; they use up a lot of energy.
