Homo erectus

Homo erectus is a species of fossil hominid (2.5 million to 200,000 years ago). It was the first human species to conquer the world. Homo erectus was the same size as humans are today.

Its cranial capacity increased (750 to 1250 cm³) as compared to that of Homo habilis. Homo erectus was the first human to domesticate fire and invent the Hand Axe.

Today, the term Homo erectus is restricted to Asian fossils (Pithecanthropus) while the term Homo ergaster is used for African fossils and Homo heidelbergensis for European fossils.