Vana 102- Chapter 1- Ungulates And Evolution Of Horse

• Ungulata - One traditional grouping of mammals, now recognized as a paraphyletic grouping.
• Hoof - Latin “Ungula”
• Protungulates - The earliest known ungulate, a small insectivore-like animal with teeth slightly adapted for grinding.
• Order Artiodactyla - The feet are either 2 or 4-toed. Paraxonic the feet of the species in order Artiodactyla that line of symmetry passes between digits 3 and 4The pre-molars are less like the molars than in most perissodactyls.
• Three sub-order of Artiodactyla

  Suborder Suina

  Suborder Tylopoda

  Suborder Ruminantia
• Astragalus (tarsal or ankle bone) - A so-called 'double pulley' whereby both the connecting surfaces allow a rolling action giving greater freedom of movement in the ankle. Other ungulates lack this arrangement.
• Order Perissodactyla - Mesaxonic feet (line of symmetry down the third digit). A full set of incisors. Greatly molarised pre-molars
• Two living suborders of Order Perissodactyla

  Ceratomorpha

  Hippomorpha

  Ancyclopoda (extinc)
• Suborder Hippomorpha - There are seven members currently found in this family, all genus Equus: the domestic horse, wild horse, 3 zebras and two asses.
• Evolution of the Horse - The evolutionary lineage of the horse is among the best documented in all paleontology.
• Eohippus - 55 million Years Ago • Eocene Era • Forest Browser
• Mesohippus - 35 million Years Ago • Oligocene Era
• Miohippus - 30 million Years Ago • Oligocene Era• Forest was shrinking, grassland were expanding.
• Mercyhippus - 20 million Years Ago • Miocene Era • Plain grazer
• Pliohippus - 5 million Years Ago • Pliocene Era
• Eqqus - 4 million Years Ago • Modern Era
• Equus Asinus - Scientific name of the Asses/Donkey
• Equus Caballus - Scientific Name of Horse.
• Equus quagga (burchelli) - Scientific name of Zebra