Pliohippus (Greek πλείων (pleion, "more") and ἵππος (ippos, "horse"))[1] is an extinctgenus of Equidae, the "horse family". Pliohippus arose in the middle Miocene, around 15 million years ago. The long and slim limbs of Pliohippus reveal a quick-footed steppe animal. While some specimens have one toe per leg, others have three (the main toe and two non-functional side toes).[2]
Until recently, because of its many anatomical similarities, Pliohippus was believed to be the ancestor of the present-day horse and its relatives in Equus. Although Pliohippus clearly is an equid and thus related to Equus, its skull had deep facial fossae, a feature not found in any member of Equus. Additionally, its teeth were strongly curved, unlike the very straight teeth of modern horses. Consequently, it is unlikely to be the ancestor of the modern horse; instead, it is likely to be the ancestor of Astrohippus.[3]Pliohippus stood approximately 1.25 metres, similar to the modern horse. Also like the modern horse, Pliohippus was a grazer that fed on steppe grasses of the North American plains it inhabited.
Fossils of Pliohippus have been found at many late Miocene localities in Colorado, the Great Plains (Nebraska, including Ashfall Fossil Beds[2] and the Dakotas) and also Canada. Pliohippus has been found beside Neohipparion.
Specimen at American Museum of Natural History
Life reconstruction of P. pernix
ReferencesEdit
^"Evolution". Equestrian and Horse. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
^ abWilliams, Wendy (2015). The Horse. Toronto, Canada: Harper Collins. p. 118. ISBN9781443417860.
^MacFadden, B. J. (1984). "Astrohippus and Dinohippus". J. Vert. Paleon. 4(2):273-283.
October 20, 2023
pliohippus, greek, πλείων, pleion, more, ἵππος, ippos, horse, extinct, genus, equidae, horse, family, arose, middle, miocene, around, million, years, long, slim, limbs, reveal, quick, footed, steppe, animal, while, some, specimens, have, others, have, three, m. Pliohippus Greek pleiwn pleion more and ἵppos ippos horse 1 is an extinct genus of Equidae the horse family Pliohippus arose in the middle Miocene around 15 million years ago The long and slim limbs of Pliohippus reveal a quick footed steppe animal While some specimens have one toe per leg others have three the main toe and two non functional side toes 2 PliohippusTemporal range Barstovian Hemphillian 15 97 4 9 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg NPliohippus pernix skullScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder PerissodactylaFamily EquidaeSubfamily EquinaeTribe EquiniGenus PliohippusMarsh 1874SpeciesP castilli P fossulatus P mirabilis P nobilis P pernix P tantalus P tehonensisUntil recently because of its many anatomical similarities Pliohippus was believed to be the ancestor of the present day horse and its relatives in Equus Although Pliohippus clearly is an equid and thus related to Equus its skull had deep facial fossae a feature not found in any member of Equus Additionally its teeth were strongly curved unlike the very straight teeth of modern horses Consequently it is unlikely to be the ancestor of the modern horse instead it is likely to be the ancestor of Astrohippus 3 Pliohippus stood approximately 1 25 metres similar to the modern horse Also like the modern horse Pliohippus was a grazer that fed on steppe grasses of the North American plains it inhabited Fossils of Pliohippus have been found at many late Miocene localities in Colorado the Great Plains Nebraska including Ashfall Fossil Beds 2 and the Dakotas and also Canada Pliohippus has been found beside Neohipparion Specimen at American Museum of Natural History Life reconstruction of P pernixReferences Edit Evolution Equestrian and Horse Retrieved 15 December 2016 a b Williams Wendy 2015 The Horse Toronto Canada Harper Collins p 118 ISBN 9781443417860 MacFadden B J 1984 Astrohippus and Dinohippus J Vert Paleon 4 2 273 283 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pliohippus amp oldid 1176793680, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
