Write a short note on phylogenetic status of H. habilis.
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Homo habilis, meaning "handy man," is a species of early hominin that lived approximately 2.1 to 1.5 million years ago during the Early Pleistocene epoch. It is widely regarded as one of the earliest members of the genus Homo. H. habilis is known from fossil remains found primarily in East Africa, particularly in sites such as Olduvai Gorge and Lake Turkana.
The phylogenetic status of H. habilis has been the subject of debate among paleoanthropologists. Initially classified as Homo due to its larger brain size and more human-like characteristics compared to Australopithecus, recent research has questioned its placement within Homo. Some scientists propose that H. habilis may represent a mosaic of primitive and derived traits and could potentially belong to the genus Australopithecus or even a distinct genus.
Despite ongoing discussions about its taxonomic classification, H. habilis is recognized for its tool-making abilities, larger brain size, and adaptations for bipedalism, marking an important transitional phase in human evolution toward the development of more advanced Homo species.