Pliohippus

extinct mammal genus

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Oct 10, 2023 - 18:36

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Pliohippus leidyanus

The drawing shown at the top is a reconstruction of what scientists believe a horse may have looked like at a later stage of its evolution. This drawing illustrates Pliohippus, the first of the one-toed horses, from the Pliocene Epoch. The drawing shown at the bottom is a reconstruction of its skeleton and foot bones.

Pliohippus, extinct genus of horses that inhabited North America during the Pliocene Epoch (5.3–2.6 million years ago). Pliohippus, the earliest one-toed horse, evolved from Merychippus, a three-toed horse of the preceding Miocene Epoch (23–5.3 million years ago). The teeth of Pliohippus are taller and more complexly folded than those of earlier horses; these features indicate a greater dependence on grazing than browsing for food. Because of its diet and its specializations for running, it is likely that Pliohippus lived on open plains.