It is typically thought that the diets of H. habilis and other early Homo had a greater proportion of meat than Australopithecus, and that this led to brain growth. The main hypotheses regarding this are: meat is energy- and nutrient-rich and put evolutionary pressure on developing enhanced cognitive skills to facilitate strategic scavenging and monopolise fresh carcasses, or meat allowed the large and calorie-expensive ape gut to decrease in size allowing this energy to be diverted to brain growth. Alternatively, it is also suggested that early Homo, in a drying climate with scarcer food options, relied primarily on underground storage organs (such as tubers) and food sharing, which facilitated social bonding among both male and female group members. However, unlike what is presumed for H. ergaster and later Homo, short-statured early Homo are generally considered to have been incapable of endurance running and hunting, and the long and Australopithecus-like forearm of H. habilis could indicate early Homo were still arboreal to a degree. Also, organised hunting and gathering is thought to have emerged in H. ergaster. Nonetheless, the proposed food-gathering models to explain large brain growth necessitate increased daily travel distance. It has also been argued that H. habilis instead had long, modern humanlike legs and was fully capable of effective long distance travel, while still remaining at least partially arboreal.
it is typically thought that the diets of h habilis and other early homo had a greater proportion of meat than australopithecus and that this led to brain growth the main hypotheses regarding this are meat is energy- and nutrient-rich and put evolutionary pressure on developing enhanced cognitive skills to facilitate strategic scavenging and monopolise fresh carcasses or meat allowed the large and calorie-expensive ape gut to decrease in size allowing this energy to be diverted to brain growth alternatively it is also suggested that early homo in a drying climate with scarcer food options relied primarily on underground storage organs (such as tubers) and food sharing which facilitated social bonding among both male and female group members however unlike what is presumed for h ergaster and later homo short-statured early homo are generally considered to have been incapable of endurance running and hunting and the long and australopithecus-like forearm of h habilis could indicate early homo were still arboreal to a degree also organised hunting and gathering is thought to have emerged in h ergaster nonetheless the proposed food-gathering models to explain large brain growth necessitate increased daily travel distance it has also been argued that h habilis instead had long modern humanlike legs and was fully capable of effective long distance travel while still remaining at least partially arboreal