Three-Toed Horse
Parahippus leonensis
Parahippus leonensis sp. was an extinct Three-Toed Horse that was about the size of a medium dog and a relative of the modern horse. Estimated to have had an average lifespan of 9 years and weighing in at 160lbs. (72.5kg). It dates back 18 Million Years ago (Middle Hemingfordian) and is from the early Miocene of Florida.
Parahippus means “side horse”. They have three toes and the side toes are less prominent. It is one of the many Miocene land mammals of Florida and was common food for the
Bear-Dog carnivores.
This primitive horse had medium height teeth, was a low-crowned browser, and ate a wide range of grasses and leaves.
Parahippus leonensis is the most commonly found horse fossil at the Thomas Farm Miocene site, in Florida, and may be the missing link between the old Forest-dwelling horses and the modern plains-dwelling horses.
3 Toed horses go extinct about 2.1 Million Years ago.
Archaeohippus Horse
Equus Horse
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