Final answer:
Homo floresiensis had a brain size of 380 cc, but it exhibited cognitive abilities like tool-making and fire usage. Its small brain size did not impact its intelligence, and it is an example of island dwarfism in the Homo genus.
Step-by-step explanation:
Homo floresiensis, also known as "the Hobbit" or "Flores Man," had a brain size of 380 cc, which is comparable to the size of an orange. Despite its small brain size, H. floresiensis exhibited cognitive abilities such as tool-making, fire usage, and hunting, similar to H. erectus. The brain of H. floresiensis had a Brodmann area associated with cognitive abilities, which was the same size as that found in modern humans.
Research suggests that the small brain size of H. floresiensis did not hinder its intelligence. This challenges the belief that larger cranial capacity is always correlated with higher cognitive skills. Island dwarfism, an evolutionary explanation, proposes that H. floresiensis and other small animal species evolved smaller bodies to adapt to limited resources on islands. The brain of H. floresiensis may have undergone neurological reorganization to fit its smaller cranial space while maintaining its brain-to-body ratio.
H. floresiensis is an example of the diverse nature of the Homo genus, and its unique characteristics were likely shaped by evolutionary pressures in island environments.