Species Profile
Hyracotherium
Eohippus (Dawn horse)
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassMammalia
OrderUnknown
FamilyUnknown
Introduction
Lived during the Eocene epoch (~55 million years ago).
Fossils found in North America and Europe.
Represents the beginning of horse evolution.
Size & Structure
01
Dog-sized body
02
Four toes in forelimbs
03
Three toes in hindlimbs
04
Low-crowned teeth
Hyracotherium — 3D Model
General Features
- Coelom
- True coelom
- Body plan
- Tube within a tube body plan (Deuterostomous)
- Germ layer
- Triploblastic
- Metamerism
- Absent
- Body symmetry
- Bilateral
- Fertilization
- Internal
- Digestion type
- Complete
- Nervous system
- Developed cerebrum
- Excretory organ
- Kidneys
- Body temperature
- Homeothermic
- Circulatory type
- Closed, double, complete
- Development type
- Direct
- Respiratory type
- Pulmonary respiration
- Mode of excretion
- Ureotelism
- Circulation system
- Closed
- Skeleton structure
- Endoskeleton
- Level of Organisation
- Organ system level
- Regulation of Osmosis
- Osmoregulator
Ecology
Forest browser
Fed on soft leaves
Early grazing adaptation
Economic Importance
Key fossil in horse evolution
Paleontological importance
Evolution studies