Were the First Humans, such as Homo habilis and Other Early Hominins, Really Apex Predators Or Were They Still Prey? — Here’s What Scientists Found Out

Today, when we think of early humans, we imagine powerful hunters that were positioned at the top of the food chain. However, over 2 million years ago, when the first humans, such as Homo habilis and other early hominins, recently arrived, it was not always the case.

These ancient human beings may have lived completely different lives from what we imagined. In a world still full of larger predators and humans only beginning to evolve into a tool-making species, our ancestors may not have been the apex predators of their time, despite being referred to as the first humans. Let’s explore what the evidence says and what scientists believe.

Early Humans Were Not the Strongest Animals

Homo habilis and other earlier hominins were not as big as the modern human species, Homo sapiens. It is estimated that they stood at just 3.5 to 4.5 feet tall and weighed much less than we do. In other words, their bodies have not developed yet to be capable of defending against larger predators, or rather, they are built more for climbing trees and walking longer distances.

Predators in Africa, at the time, were extremely dangerous for hominins, as these creatures are bigger, faster, and possibly better hunters. From big carnivorous cats such as lions, tigers, saber-tooths, leopards, and packs of hyenas, to other animals such as crocodiles, bears, and even large birds like eagles, hominins could easily be overpowered and preyed upon.

Earlier humans, like Homo habilis and other hominins that belonged to the first homo genus, lacked the size, speed, and natural weaponry of the apex predators that roamed their environments. For these reasons alone, it could be inferred that ancient first humans are not the undeniable top predators.

But here are some of the evidence that scientists found. First, there is the discovery of a 1.8-million-year-old Homo habilis skull from Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania. The skull was punctured by a large feline species, which most experts believe to be leopards.

Another would be the famous “Taung Child” fossil, which belongs to a species that existed before Homonins but likely evolved from, showing marks of talon injuries, most likely from being hunted by a large bird predator such as a crowned eagle.

These are some of the most significant evidence that over 2 million years ago, humans were not yet the apex predators of their land, or at least they were not the only apex predators. In other words, they are still being preyed upon and targeted by other species, but it does not mean that they are helpless. Homo habilis itself existed for roughly 1 million years.

Read more: Britannica | Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

How Tools Changed the Game

When Humans Were Prey

While earlier hominins were still being preyed upon by various other predators, they had already started the process of making and using stone tools. This marked a critical turning point in their evolution, but not just because they were able to fight off some of the bigger animals.

It is because with the invention of tools, they were able to increase their diets. They used it to cut meat, process plants, and crush bones for marrow. This meant an increase in nutrients and calories, which would later help them develop their brains and bodies further until bigger and stronger hominins like Homo erectus existed.

At first, humans did not primarily hunt animals; instead, they are believed to have scavenged meat or relied on plant diets. Larger predators like lions or leopards often have leftovers that humans could scrap. The stone tools were essentially helpful for these tasks as they could cut the remaining meat and get the nutrient-rich bone marrow.

Over time, tools became sharper and humans became more adept at using them. At this point, they began to hunt smaller animals themselves with a group of individuals. Although they still needed to watch out for being hunted by larger predators, they began to move up the food chain.

Living in Groups for Safety and Success

One of the key survival strategies of early humans, aside from their sharp stone tools, was living in groups. In a world full of big carnivorous animals, having the numbers is a normal and common defense mechanism of species that lack the features to survive by themselves individually.

One of the hypotheses about this survival strategy was the many eyes theory. Living in groups meant there were more people available to spot predators coming from afar. After seeing these carnivorous animals, earlier humans could devise a strategy to survive, but it was probably not as intentional and was more instinctual.

They could throw stones, scatter to confuse the predators, make loud noises, or mob attack them. Alone, earlier human species were weak, but together as a group, they could stand a chance against a predator like a leopard or any single big cat.

Read more: Natural History Museum

Were They Apex Predators or Prey?

Homo Habilis: Were They Really the First Apex Predators?

The evidence and our knowledge about these earlier humans suggest that they were not yet apex predators, who live at the top of the food chain. Instead, for millions of years, ancient hominins like Homo habilis may have been more of a prey species than predators.

However, while they are probably not the apex predators, they were not completely helpless either. These earlier hominins are considered to be transitional species that started what it means to be human.

They began creating and using stone tools, their diets expanded, allowing their brains to develop to be bigger and have more complex cognitive abilities, and their social cooperation eventually enabled later hominins like Homo erectus to be the truly dominating species that they could be.

Author's Final Thoughts

The history of humans and every species other than the genus Homo was complex. Eventually, the modern humans, Homo sapiens, were born, and they became the undoubtedly apex predators of the planet. However, it was not always the case, just as with Homo habilis and other earlier hominins who existed over 2 million years ago.

They survived in a harsh world not as the apex predators, but they were not just prey either. They were transitional beings who were beginning to live more complex lives. The used tools, scavenged, lived in groups, and slowly learned how to hunt. Every step they took brought humans closer to being apex predators and eventually propelled humanity to the top of the food chain.

Read next: How Did Homo Habilis, “the Handy Humans”, Survive for Roughly 1 Million Years, And Why Did They Eventually Go Extinct? — Here’s What Scientists Believe

References & Further Reading

de Ruiter, D. J., & Berger, L. R. (2000). Leopards as taphonomic agents in dolomitic caves: Implications for bone accumulations in the hominid-bearing deposits of South Africa. Journal of Archaeological Science. https://profleeberger.com/files/leopards_as_taphonomic_agents.pdf

Domínguez-Rodrigo, M., & Pickering, T. R. (2003). Early hominid hunting and scavenging: A zooarchaeological review. Evolutionary Anthropology. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/evan.10119

Arriaza, M. C., et al. (2019). Characterising leopard as taphonomic agent through morphometric analysis of tooth marks. (University of Salamanca). https://gredos.usal.es/bitstream/10366/155523/1/22.%20Characterising%20leopard%20as%20taphonomic%20agen.pdf