Horse Bowl The Origin of the Horse

                 The Five Main Evolutionary Stages

 

So for practice I would like you to share some facts about each  evolutionary stage  of the horse.

Hyracotherium    Mesohippus   Merychippus    Pliohippus 

                                       Equus

 For example here are some start up questions for you.

* What era did it appear?

* What size?

* How did the hoof/foot look?

* Where did it live and eat?

* Is it known by any other names?

The Four Early Types of the Horse Included: 

 Primitive Type I    

 Which included both the Celtic pony and the European forest horse

Primitive Type II

 Prezwalski's Horse

 Primitive Type III

 The Wild Horse of Central Asia

 Primitive Type IV

 the Caspian pony, as well as the Tarpan

                               Family Evolution Tree

What horse was the ancestor to the Draft Breed?

Which Primitive Type  became the Akhal-Teke?

Which horse  still exists as a subspecies?

 

 

 

 

                            Horse Foot Bone Fossils

Directions

 1.  Observe the four sets of foot bones. Circle the hoof on each toe.

 2.  Write down differences you see between the four sets of foot bones.

 3. How did the bones in horse feet change over time?

4. Write whether you think the horse lived in forest or grasslands, explain your choices.

                              Horse Tooth Fossils

1.  Observe the four teeth above. Write down differences you see.

2.  How did horse teeth change over time?

3.  How does the shape and size of the teeth relate to the environment that the horse lived in?

 

 Research for discussion.

1. Hyracotherium lived in a dense forest area dominated by a rich undergrowth

of ferns. What do you think the advantages of small body stature might be in

this type of environment?

2.  A change in vegetation to grasslands brought about changes in the shape of

the horse’s leg. What changes in vegetation could have caused the evolution of

the horse?

3.The teeth of the browsers, such as Mesohippus, were covered with a thick layer of enamel.

The teeth of the modern-day horse, by comparison have less enamel and appear to be much 

wider and flatter. Provide reasons for some of the changes in teeth.