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When did Homo habilis live in sub-Saharan Africa?

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An illustration of Homo habilis, an early human ancestor, shown walking upright with a hairy body and ape-like features. A scale beside the figure indicates height in inches and centimeters. — Homo habilis Artist's rendering of *Homo habilis*, which lived from 2 to 1.5 million years ago.

Homo habilis inhabited parts of sub-Saharan Africa from approximately 2.4 million to 1.5 million years ago (mya).1

While the general timeframe for the species is often cited within this range, some researchers have identified potential specimens that could extend this timeline. For instance, a mandible discovered in Ethiopia’s Awash River valley in 2013 has been dated to 2.8–2.75 mya, though many paleontologists remain cautious about definitively attributing this specific find to H. habilis until further evidence is recovered.2