Miocene Mammals
23-25 million years old
A fossil menagerie from Nebraska includes early horses, camels, rhinos, and
Chalichotheres, a now-extinct clawed animal. As grasslands spread, many animals
adapted. Some were built for the speed of the chase across open land. During
the course of its evolution, the horse, for example, went from having feet with
four toes in front and three toes behind, to having three toes on each foot,
to finally having just one large toe--called a hoof--on each foot. Hooves helped
horses run on hard ground, and their strong, long slender legs helped them to
swiftly flee predators.
 |
 |
 |
| Fossil Mammals Main Page |
Fossil Horse | Oligocene Mammals |
