How horses evolved

So, I thought we should start off with how it all began. Horses weren't always the way they are now! They evolved, and, like every other living thing, are still evolving now. Becoming taller, faster and even more beautiful1! But what were they like in the past? Well it all starts around 50 million years ago! So come on! Hop in the time nachine and we'll take it for a spin!

Okay, here we are in the early Eocene age, which is around 50 million years ago! Come on out, mind the step, and please, no touching anything!  If you look closely, you can see the Hyracotherium, a dog like creature standing at a mere 0.4 metres. (Roughly the height of your knee). The Hyracotherium lived in forests, but as time moved on, their diet switched from foliage to grass. This odd animal, also had an odd number of toes! One at the back, and four at the front! It means they are part of an order called Perissodactyla, along with many other animals such as tapirs and rhinos! That goes to show why this picture of a Hyracotherium looks so much like a tapir! The hyracotherium is also known as the Eohippus, which means dawn horse. Lets move on to our next destination!

Hyracotherium: 








Tapir:

Here we are! We are still approximately 50 million years ago, in the early-middle Eocene age. We are here to visit the Orrohippus! The orrohippus is still very similar to the Hyracotherium, with only one significant change. The teeth of the Orrohippus were stronger and better at eating tough materials. The horse after Orrohippus was the Epihippus, (47 million years ago) but there were not many specific chances. So, lets move on to the Mesophippus.

The Mesophippus was from the late Eocene age (40 million years ago) The mesophippus' legs and neck were noticeably longer and it's brain was developing. Not long after, came the miohippus, then at 23 million years ago came the Parrahippus and the Mercychippus. At 15 million years ago, was the Philohippus, then 5 million years later, the Astrohippus.

The dinohippus was from about 12 million years ago. 12 million years later, here we are with the Equus (or, as we more commonly know them, Horses) It is incredible how horses have evolved from a tiny dog like creature to the beautiful creatures we know today. Who knows what the horse will be like in 5 million years or more? Maybe we will have to just wait and see.

Ella

Resources:
www.talkorigins.org/faqs/horses/horse_evol.html