Anyway, I thought that I'd share some information from the class here throughout the semester, not just because I thought people would find it interesting, but also to help me remember the things I'm learning!
History of the Horse
Eohippus
- the first "horse"
- lived 50 million years ago
- had 4 toes
- lived 35 million years ago
- had 3 toes
- became extinct about 7 million years ago
- lived 20 million years ago
- teeth were more developed for grazing as opposed to browsing
- 35 inches tall
- lived 5 million years ago
- closest to the modern horse
- lived about 11,000 years ago
- fossils discovered in Idaho
- reduction in the number of toes
- increase in the size of cheek teeth
- lengthening of the face
- increase in body size
- Equus asinus--donkey of Northern Africa
- Equus burchelli--plains zebra
- Equus caballus--the true horse
- Equus grevyi--the zebra most closely related to the horse. When crossed with a horse, you get a "zorse".
- Equus zebra--has a dewlap (extra skin on neck)
- Equus heminous--desert adapted onagers
- Equus przewalski ("sheh-val-skee")--
--12-14 hands tall