Final answer:
Homo habilis, a species from East Africa, is thought to have evolved into Homo erectus, marking a notable point in human evolution with changes in posture, diet, and tool use.
Step-by-step explanation:
Evolution of Homo habilis
In East Africa, Homo habilis, the first known species in the genus Homo, is thought to have evolved into Homo erectus. This significant evolutionary development occurred around 1.9 million years ago. Homo habilis, often recognized for its stone tool use and larger brain compared to predecessors, eventually gave rise to Homo erectus—a species noted for its upright posture, reliance on a more varied diet including meat, and advancements in tool use. Homo erectus was remarkable for being the first to migrate out of Africa and adapt to various environmental conditions, leading to a plethora of human species, including Homo heidelbergensis and ultimately, modern humans or Homo sapiens.
Contemporary research suggests that while Homo habilis was pivotal in the human evolutionary journey, its taxonomic relation to Homo erectus and whether it directly led to Homo erectus remain a subject of scientific debate, with some researchers suggesting that another species like Homo rudolfensis may have been the immediate ancestor to Homo erectus.