Homo Habilis Homo Habilis first appeared around 2.5 million years ago. Fossils of H. Habilis were first discovered in Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania and named by Louis Leakey, Phillip Tobias, and John Napier. Fossils were also found at Lake Turkana, Kenya, Omo Basin, Ethiopia, and Sterkfontein Cave, South Africa. Excavations at Olduvai Gorge also indicate that H. habilis lived at the same time and in the same place as A. boisei. Tools found at this site can not be conclusively linked to only one or the other species.

With a brain relatively larger (630 - 640cc) than australopithecines, Homo habilis is the first definite human ancestor. In addition to this larger brain size, H. habilis remains also have reduced molars and premolars and a clearly bi-pedal foot structure.

Approximately 1.6 million years ago, Homo Habilis was replaced by Homo Erectus.

Information provided by: http://www.anthro.mankato.msus.edu