Friday, May 10, 2013

How did predators affect the evolution of horses?















Because the predators were so large and fast, in order to have the ability to run away from them, the horses legs grew longer and stronger to help them run away. Epihippus had greater speed which made it able to outrun predators which lead to the Mesohippus. The Mesohippus was larger in size to have advantage on the grassland. Also the mesohippus had even longer legs. (www.saintjoe.edu).

How did the ecological changes force horses to change?




The horses were forced to evolve because of the changes in the environment. After the climate changed, the forests change into grassland and open prairie. The horses toes turned into hooves, so they will have greater ability to run in the prairie. The horses teeth increased in size to make grass easier to chew. All of the physical changes of the horse are ways that the horses adapted to the changing environment over time.(www.amnh.org)

How did the physical apperance of horses change overtime?

Today we have large, long-legged, fast-running horses (www.txtwriter.com). 30 million years ago, horses were as small as a fox. A horse used to be a mammal with toes instead of hooves. The horses teeth were originally very small. Over time, the horse teeth increased in length and have a complex shape. The horse's physical appearance evolved from head to toe. ( www.truthinscience.org.uk)