Temporal range: Barstovian-Hemphillian~15.97–4.9 Ma
PreꞒ
Ꞓ
O
S
D
C
P
T
J
K
Pg
N
Pliohippus pernix skull
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Perissodactyla
Family:
Equidae
Subfamily:
Equinae
Tribe:
Equini
Genus:
†Pliohippus Marsh, 1874
Species
P. castilli
P. fossulatus
P. mirabilis
P. nobilis
P. pernix
P. tantalus
P. tehonensis
Pliohippus (Greek πλείων (pleion, "more") and ἵππος (ippos, "horse"))[1] is an extinct genus of Equidae, the "horse family". Pliohippus arose in the middle Miocene, around 15 million years ago. The long and slim limbs of Pliohippus reveal a quick-footed steppe animal. While some specimens have one toe per leg, others have three (the main toe and two non-functional side toes).[2]
Until recently, because of its many anatomical similarities, Pliohippus was believed to be the ancestor of the present-day horse and its relatives in Equus. Although Pliohippus clearly is an equid and thus related to Equus, its skull had deep facial fossae, a feature not found in any member of Equus. Additionally, its teeth were strongly curved, unlike the very straight teeth of modern horses. Consequently, it is unlikely to be the ancestor of the modern horse; instead, it is likely to be the ancestor of Astrohippus.[3]Pliohippus stood approximately 1.25 metres, similar to the modern horse. Also like the modern horse, Pliohippus was a grazer that fed on steppe grasses of the North American plains it inhabited.
Fossils of Pliohippus have been found at many late Miocene localities in Colorado, the Great Plains (Nebraska, including Ashfall Fossil Beds[2] and the Dakotas) and also Canada. Pliohippus has been found beside Neohipparion.
Specimen at American Museum of Natural History
Life reconstruction of P. pernix
^"Evolution". Equestrian and Horse. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
^ abWilliams, Wendy (2015). The Horse. Toronto, Canada: Harper Collins. p. 118. ISBN 9781443417860.
^MacFadden, B. J. (1984). "Astrohippus and Dinohippus". J. Vert. Paleon. 4(2):273-283.
Pliohippus (Greek πλείων (pleion, "more") and ἵππος (ippos, "horse")) is an extinct genus of Equidae, the "horse family". Pliohippus arose in the middle...
callused stubs. The long and slim limbs of Pliohippus reveal a quick-footed steppe animal. Until recently, Pliohippus was believed to be the ancestor of present-day...
South America extinct. c. 11,000 years ago Genus: † Onohippidium Genus: † Pliohippus Genus: † Protohippus "Paleobiology Database: Equini basic info". Archived...
to Alberta and Panama (Alajuela Formation). Quinn originally referred "Pliohippus" mexicanus to Dinohippus, but unpublished cladistic results in an SVP...
pectinatus †Equus crenidens Genus †Hippidion Genus †Onohippidium Genus †Pliohippus Although the plains and mountain zebras have been placed in Hippotigris...
horses[dubious – discuss], with the most likely ancestor of Astrohippus being Pliohippus. The species Astrohippus ansae was originally described by W. D. Matthew...
genera: Cormohipparion, Protohippus, Pseudhipparion, Neohipparion and Pliohippus three camelid genera: Procamelus, Aepycamelus and Protolabis three canid...
Hippidion Genus Hippotherium Genus Merychippus Genus Parahippus Genus Pliohippus Genus Scaphohippus Superfamily Rhinocerotoidea Family Amynodontidae (hippo-rhinos)...
extinct North American rhino Teleoceras fossiger, Indarctos oregonensis, Pliohippus spectans, Machairodus sp., Hemiauchenia vera, an extinct species of fox...
Gomphotherium Rhinocerotidae Peraceras Serbelodon S. burnhami Equidae Dinohippus Pliohippus P. tantalus Megahippus M. matthewi Amphicyonidae Ischyrocyon I. mohavensis...
†Pliogyps fisheri – type locality for species †Pliohippus †Pliohippus nobilis – type locality for species †Pliohippus pernix †Pliolemmus †Pliolemmus antiquus...
This species is regarded as a transitional form between the primitive Pliohippus and the modern horse genus Equus. Late Pliocene life of Idaho that was...
form Plegadis – or unidentified comparable form †Pleiolama †Plesiogulo †Pliohippus †Pomoxis †Potamocypris †Pratifelis †Pratifelis martini – type locality...
†Pliogeomys †Pliogeomys buisi – type locality for species †Pliohippus †Pliohippus nobilis †Pliohippus pernix †Pliotaxidea †Pliotaxidea nevadensis – or unidentified...
†Plesiosorex coloradensis – type locality for species †Pleurolicus †Pliohippus †Pliohippus mirabilis – type locality for species †Plionictis †Plionictis ogygia...
furlongi – type locality for species †Pliohippus †Pliohippus fairbanksi – or unidentified comparable form †Pliohippus spectans †Pliosaccomys †Pliosaccomys...
†Pliogeomys russelli – type locality for species †Pliohippus †Pliohippus mirabilis †Pliohippus nobilis †Pliohippus pernix †Pliolemmus †Pliolemmus antiquus †Pliometanastes...
rhinoceros. Plioceros P. sp. Kern County, California. An antilocaprid. Pliohippus P. tantulus Kern County, California. An equid. P. tejonensis Kern County...
munirulhaqi. Pliohippus potosinus Sp. nov Valid Ferrusquía-Villafranca et al. Late Miocene Mexico A member of Equidae, a species of Pliohippus. Rhinoceros...
Global Information
Specimen at American Museum of Natural History
Life reconstruction of P. pernix
