Homo habilis, one of the earliest members of the genus Homo, lived approximately 2.4 to 1.4 million years ago. The extinction of Homo habilis is believed to be due to a combination of environmental changes and competition with other hominin species.
As the climate in Africa began to shift, the habitats that Homo habilis relied on started to change. Forests gave way to more open savannas, which required different survival strategies. Homo habilis, which was adapted to a more forested environment, may have struggled to adapt to these new conditions.
Additionally, the emergence of more advanced hominin species, such as Homo erectus, likely played a significant role. Homo erectus had better tools and more advanced behaviors, which gave them a competitive edge. Over time, Homo erectus may have outcompeted Homo habilis for resources, leading to the latter’s decline and eventual extinction.
In summary, the extinction of Homo habilis was likely caused by a combination of environmental changes and competition from more advanced hominin species.