Species Profile
Merychippus
True grazing horse
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassMammalia
OrderUnknown
FamilyUnknown
Introduction
Merychippus lived during the Miocene epoch (~17–11 million years ago).
Fossils found mainly in North America.
It marks diversification of grassland horses.
Size & Structure
01
Horse-like body
02
Long limbs
03
Three toes (weight mainly on middle toe)
04
Fully developed high-crowned molars
Merychippus — 3D Model
No 3D model available
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
- Well 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
True grazer of grasslands
Adapted to dry environments
Fast-running herbivore
Economic Importance
Key stage in horse evolution
Demonstrates radiation of grazing mammals
Paleontological importance