History and Evolution of the Horse

Question 1

The surviving branch of horse

Answer 1

Equus

Question 2

Equus caballus

Answer 2

True horse

Question 3

Equus asinus

Answer 3

True asses and donkeys of Northern Africa

Question 4

Equus burchelli

Answer 4

Plains of Africa (Eastern and southern) (“typical” zebra)

Question 5

How are zebras told apart?

Answer 5

The stripes (vertical, horizontal, thickness)

Question 6

Equus burchelli characteristics

Answer 6

Wide vertical stripes

Thick horizontal stripes on the rump

Question 7

Equus grevyi

Answer 7

Native to Eastern Africa
Grevy’s zebra
The most horse like zebra

Question 8

Characteristics of Equus grevyi

Answer 8

Large size
Narrow vertical stripes
Huge ears

Question 9

Equus zebra

Answer 9

Mountain zebra of South Africa

Question 10

Characteristics of Equus zebra

Answer 10

Gridiron pattern on rump

Dewlap

Question 11

Equus hemious

Answer 11

Several sub-species
Desert adaptates onagers of Asia
(Indian, Asian, Mongolian, Syrian Wild Ass)

Question 12

Equus przewalski

Answer 12

Oldest living specie of horse
Ancestor of modern horse
Discovered in Mongolia (1879)

Question 13

Characteristics of Equus przewalski

Answer 13

Dun

Cannot be domesticated

Question 14

Earliest known ancestor of horse

Answer 14

Eohippus
Hyracotherium
Dawn horse

Question 15

Characteristics of Eohippus

Answer 15

8-18" at the shoulder (fox sized) 
4 functional toes (front) 
3 toes (back) 
Browser 
Long face 
44 teeth

Question 16

Origin of Eohippus

Answer 16

Earliest remains found in North America

Lived 54 million years ago

Question 17

Characteristics of Mesohippus

Answer 17

24" at shoulder 
44 evolved teeth 
3 toes (front) 
Strong middle toe 
Toes ended on little hooves 
Pad behind hooves

Question 18

Origin of Mesohippus

Answer 18

35 million years ago

Extinction in Europe and North America 7 million years ago