Parahippus leonensis
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Parahippus leonensis Temporal range: Miocene |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Herbivore |
| Family: | Equidae |
| Subfamily: | †Anchitheriinae |
| Genus: | †Parahippus |
| Species: |
†P. leonensis Sellards, 1916 |
| Binomial name | |
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†Parahippus leonensis |
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Parahippus leonensis is an extinct proto-horse of the family Equidae that was endemic to North America during the Miocene from 23.030—16.3 Ma living for approximately 6.73 million years.
Parahippus leonensis was named for Leon or more specifically Leon County, Florida.
Parahippus leonensis was named by Sellards (1916). Its type specimen is FGS 5084. Its type locality is Griscom Plantation site, which is in a Miocene marine limestone in the Torreya Formation of Florida. It was recombined as Hippodon leonensis by Quinn (1955); it was considered a nomen dubium by Macdonald (1992).
Two specimens were examined by M. Mendoza, C. M. Janis, and P. Palmqvist for body mass. The results were:
Parahippus leonensis was the next step in evolution after Miohippus. Parahippus means "side horse" and has been called the evolutionary link between the older forest-dwelling horses and modern plains-dwelling grazers. It is believed to be a close relative to the group from which modern horses evolved. Side may refer to side branches on the posterior crest of the upper molars which separated Parahippus from Anchitherium.
This genus of horses had a long head with eyes situated back from the middle of the skull. It had three toes, like other primitive horses, however Parahippus leonensis had smaller side toes. It was a common species from the Great Plains to Florida. Parahippus leonensis weighed in at about 72.5 kg (160 pounds).
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