Hyracotherium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hyracotherium |
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Hyracotherium
Owen, 1841
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?Eohippus Marsh, 1876 |
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Hyracotherium was a very old animal that lived millions of years ago. It's often called the "dawn horse," but it's not exactly the same as the earliest true horse, Eohippus. Think of Hyracotherium as a distant relative of modern horses.
This ancient creature belonged to a group called Palaeotheres. These animals were ancestors to both horses and other large, extinct mammals called brontotheres. Hyracotherium lived in parts of Asia and Europe.
What was Hyracotherium?
Hyracotherium lived during the early Eocene epoch. This was about 55 to 45 million years ago. It was a very small animal, roughly the size of a fox or a small dog.
The first fossils of Hyracotherium were found in England. A scientist named Richard Owen discovered them in 1841. He was the one who gave it the name Hyracotherium.
Hyracotherium vs. Eohippus
For a long time, scientists thought Hyracotherium and Eohippus were the same animal. Eohippus means "dawn horse" and was found in North America.
However, scientists now believe they are different. The original Hyracotherium fossils found in Europe are distinct. The name Eohippus is now used for the earliest horse-like animal found in North America.
Images for kids
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Holotype BMNH M16336
See also
In Spanish: Hyracotherium para niños
