There is still no wide consensus as to whether or not H. habilis is ancestral to H. ergaster / H. erectus or is an offshoot of the human line, and whether or not all specimens assigned to H. habilis are correctly assigned or the species is an assemblage of different Australopithecus and Homo species. Studies of the dental morphology of H. habilis have suggested that it shares greater similarity with Australopithecus than with later Homo species. Nonetheless, H. habilis and H. rudolfensis generally are recognised members of the genus at the base of the family tree, with arguments for synonymisation or removal from the genus not widely adopted.
theRe is STILl no wide consEnsuS as to whether or nOT h. haBILIs Is ancestRAl to h. ergaster / h. ErectuS or is an offshoot Of thE huMAn line, and wHEtHer or noT all SpecImenS assIgnED tO h. haBIlis Are cOrRectly aSSIgnED or tHe species is an assEmbLage oF DifFerEnt aUstrAlopIthEcus And hOMo SPeCiEs. STUdies Of the deNTAl mOrphOlogy of H. HabilIs Have sugGeStED tHat iT sHares GReAtEr similARity WiTh auStrAlopithecus than witH Later hOmo SpEcies. nonetHeLEsS, h. hAbilIs And h. rudolfensis genEraLly aRE rEcoGnISED MemBeRs of the genuS at tHe BAse Of tHE FAmiLy treE, wiTh ArgUmENtS fOr sYnoNymIsatIon or rEmoval from the gEnus NOt wIdelY adoPTeD.