What is the species name for the grade of hominids that are the first to be part of our genus?

Question

what characters initiated this classification change?

Answer 1

Homo hablis (Handy man/tool maker & user)/Homo rudolphensis (Similar time frame, 2-2.5 mya/found by a lake formerly known as Rudolph, in Central Africa)...

Australopithecus ("Lucy") from 3.3 mya, was only 3' tall, and displayed many more small, ape-like features!

Answer 2

Probably Homo Habilis at about 2 million years old.

A slightly larger brain cavity (cranium) and the possible use of tools were the evidence given for the classification.

Answer 3

apes