Archaeohippus (Greek: "ancient" (archaios), "horse" (hippos)[3]) is an extinct three toed member of the family Equidae known from fossils of early Oligocene to middle Miocene age.[1] The genus is noted for several distinct skeletal features. The skull possesses deeply pocketed fossa in a notably long preorbital region.[1] The genus is considered an example of phyletic dwarfism with adults estimated at being on average 20 kilograms in weight. This is in contrast to the most common equid of the period, Miohippus.[1] Characters of the teeth show a mix of both primitive and advanced traits. The advanced traits are very similar to those shown in the genus Parahippus. The noted similarities of Archaeohippus and Parahippus show them to be descended from a common ancestor. They are considered sister species.[1]
| Archaeohippus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Reconstructed skull of A. blackbergi, American Museum of Natural History | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Perissodactyla |
| Family: | Equidae |
| Subfamily: | †Anchitheriinae |
| Genus: | †Archaeohippus Gidley, 1906 |
| Species[2] | |
| |
Taxonomic history
edit
The first species to be named was found in the Miocene Mascall Fauna of Cottonwood Creek, Oregon.[1] Named Anchitherium ultimus the species was described in 1886 by noted paleontologist, E. D. Cope[1] during the height of the Bone wars. During study 1906 on the Mascall formation equids, J. Gidley moved to a new genus he named Archaeohippus. The strong similarity of the traits resulted in the genus being considered a subgenus of Parahippus by W. D. Matthew in 1932. In stark contrast of opinion Archaeohippus was revalidated by D.F. Bode in 1933, and along with A. ultimus, he included A. mourningi and A. penultimus.[1] Archaeohippus ranged across all of North America. In addition to the occurrences in Florida and Oregon, fossil specimens have been found in Southern Saskatchewan, Canada.[4] At the other end of its range Archaeohippus have been found as far south as the Miocene Gaillard Cut local in the former canalzone of Panama.[5] "Archaeohippus" stenolophus, known from Oligocene deposits in Saskatchewan, does not belong in Archaeohippus, and A. minimus is a composite of two taxa, as noted by Osborn (1918), with the P3-M1 belonging to A. ultimus and the molar and premolar belonging to a larger, more derived equid.[1] Archaeohippus mannulus and Arachaeohippus blackbergi have been unearthed in Florida, specifically at the Thomas Farm Site.[6][7][8]
In at least part of its range Archaeohippus dwelt in a forested or wooded habitat.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i O'Sullivan, Jay A. 2003 "A new species of Archaeohippus (Mammalia, Equidae) from the Arikareenan of Central Florida" Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 23(4):877–885
- ^ "Fossilworks: Archaeohippus".
- ^ "Glossary. American Museum of Natural History". Archived from the original on 20 November 2021.
- ^ Storer, J. E. & Bryant, H. N. 1993 "Biostratigraphy of the Cypress Hills Formation (Eocene to Miocene), Saskatchewan: equid types (Mammalia: Perissodactyla) and associated faunal assemblages." Journal of Paleontology 67:660–669.
- ^ a b Macfadden, Bruce J. 2006 "North American Miocene Land Mammals from Panama" Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 26(3):720–734
- ^ O'Sullivan, Jay (December 24, 2003). "A New Species of Archaeohippus (Mammalia, Equidae) from the Arikareean of Central Floridia". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 23 (4): 877–885. Bibcode:2003JVPal..23..877O. doi:10.1671/2369-12. JSTOR 4524389. S2CID 85676077. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- ^ Lloyd, Robin. "An Inside Look at an 18 Million-year-old Fossil Dig Site in Florida". Scientific American. Nature America Inc. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- ^ "Archaeohippus blackbergi". Florida Museum. 2017-03-30. Retrieved 2021-06-16.