Hyracotherium (Noun)
Meaning
Extinct horse genus; formerly called eohippus.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- Hyracotherium is an extinct genus of small horse-like mammals that lived during the Eocene epoch.
- The earliest known ancestor of the modern horse is Hyracotherium, a tiny forest dweller that lived around 50 million years ago.
- Fossil records show that Hyracotherium had four toes on its front legs and three on its hind legs, a characteristic that distinguishes it from modern horses.
- Hyracotherium was previously known as Eohippus, but the name was changed due to the discovery of other similar species.
- Scientists have found numerous Hyracotherium fossils in North America and Europe, providing valuable insights into the evolution of horses.