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Mesohippus is known as the second stage in horse evolution. Mesohippus means "middle horse". The Mesohippus was slightly larger than Hyracotherium, being 24 inches at the shoulder. The Mesohippus evolved grinding teeth with sharp crests, which helped the species to feed on the new plants which replaced the forests and swamps they were used to. Mesohippus also 'lost' one of the toes on its forelimbs, now having 3 instead of four. The toes were still padded. The back of the Mesohippus was less curved then the Hyracotherium and the brain changed and was distinctly more equine. The neck was longer and the face was longer as well. The Mesohippus lived about 40 million years ago, and died out at about the middle Oligocine era. |
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