ZOTC 80

• Prey animals


  Animals that are hunted by predators, their main defense is to run
• Prey animals are very active compared to predator types when they are born
• Prey animals can instantly run, walk and stand at the moment of birth as this is their main defense
• Prey animals only fight back when cornered, they would rather flee than fight
• Look out


  In a herd, prey animals have a member that watches for approaching danger while the others are drinking
• Herd animal


  Prey animals depend on their herd for survival, many eyes and ears are better than one
• Social


  Prey animals enjoy having the company of others and can form friendships
• Instinctual


  Prey animals react without thinking, they use their internal instincts
• Pecking order


  Each individual prey animal has its place in the group, these clear boundaries help keep peace
• Herbivores


  Prey animals thrive on a plant-based diet of grass, hay, herbs and vegetables
• Habitual


  Prey animals like to follow a set schedule and learn to anticipate events
• The brain of a horse weighs around 22 ounces (623.69 grams)
• Horses produce 10 gallons (37.85 liters) of saliva per day
• The teeth of a horse take up more space in the head than the brain
• Grazing


  Horses like to move around in search of food and water
• Wanderers


  In addition to grazing, horses like to continuously move from place to place for their own safety
• Obligate nose-breathers


  Horses cannot breathe through their mouths
• Smile


  Horses that "smile" are smelling their environment thoroughly, often during breeding season
• Sleep


  Horses can sleep standing upright or lying down, they are light sleepers
• Stay apparatus


  The stifle joint that allows horses to sleep standing up
• Horse eyes


  • Largest eyes of any land mammal, positioned to enable nearly 360 degree vision, limited binocular vision, only yellow-green and blue cones (dichromatic)
• Horses do not have a clavicle (collarbone), instead they have a thoracic sling
• Speed


  Top speed is 27 miles/hour, fastest is 55 miles/hour (quarter horses, but only short distances)
• Horses do not have a gall bladder
• Horses can drink up to 25 gallons of water per day, but less than half of that goes into saliva production
• Laterality


  Horses can be either left or right footed
• Vomiting


  Horses cannot vomit due to a strong esophageal sphincter, angle of stomach, weak gag reflex, and if they do it means their stomach has ruptured
• There are more than 300 breeds of horses in the world
• The closest relatives of horses are rhinoceros and tapir
• The average lifespan of a tamed horse is around 25 years
• The oldest domesticated horse was named Old Billy, a barge horse, who lived from 1760 to 1822 and died at age 62
• The tallest horse was Sampson, a Shire horse later named Mammoth, who was 21 hands and 2.5 inches tall
• The smallest horse was Thumbelina, a dwarf miniature horse who was 17.5 inches tall and held the Guinness Record
• Oldest horse breeds


  • Icelandic Horse
  • Norwegian Fjord
  • Akhal-Teke
  • Mongolian Horse
  • Arabian Horse
  • Caspian Horse

  
• Miniature horses bred for their small size are prone to genetic diseases
• The pre-horse, also known as Eohippus or Hyracotherium, lived 52 million years ago and was 1-2 feet tall with 4 toes on the forelegs and 3 toes on the back legs

  
• Mesohippus lived 40 million years ago and had 3 toes on all legs, standing 3-4 feet tall
• Equus, the modern horse, evolved 5 million years ago and has 1 functional toe with 2 splints on all legs
• Living species of Equus

  • Zebra (plains, mountain, Grévy's)
  • Ass (African wild, Asiatic wild, Kiang)
  • Domestic and Wild Horse (Przewalski's Horse)
• Causes of horse extinction

  • Environment
  • Diseases
  • Competition
  • Failure to Adapt