MIOHIPPUS

'Miohippus' was a genus of prehistoric horse that lived in what is now North America during the Oligocene Period some 25 to 40 million years ago. It is believed to have branched off from ''Mesohippus'', and the two coexisted for about four-eight million years.
''Mesohippus'' had died out by the mid-Oligocene, and ''Miohippus'' became much larger than it. They weighed around 40 to 55 kilograms. They were somewhat larger than most earlier Eocene horse ancestors, but still much smaller than modern horses, which typically weigh about 500 kilograms.
''Miohippus'' was larger than ''Mesohippus'' and had a slightly longer skull. Its facial fossa was deeper and more expanded, and the ankle joint was subtly different. ''Miohippus'' also had a variable extra crest on its upper molars, which gave it a larger surface area for chewing tougher forage. This would become a typical characteristic of the teeth of later equine species.
Miohippus had two forms, one of which adjusted to the life in forests, while the other remained suited to life on prairies. The forest form led to the birth of ''Kalobatippus'' (or ''Miohippus intermedius''), whose second and fourth finger again elongated for travel on the softer primeval forest grounds. The ''Kalobatippus'' managed to relocate to Asia via the Bering Strait land bridge, and from there moved into Europe, where its fossils were formerly described under the name ''Anchitherium''. ''Kalobatippus'' is then believed to have evolved into a form known as ''Hyohippus'', which became extinct near the beginning of the Pliocene.

Contents

See also

References

See also

★ Evolution of the horse

References

★ Evolution of the Horse

★ Horse Evolution, by Kathleen Hunt

★ Evolution of Horses