Eohippus: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As	Hyracotherium • dawn horse

Photos

Illustration of Hyracotherium, also known as Eohippus or the dawn horse, a small prehistoric horse with a spotted brown coat, standing about 30 centimeters tall. An inset shows its forefoot with four toes labeled.

This diagram traces the evolution of the horse from the small, multi-toed Hyracotherium (dawn horse) of the Eocene epoch to the modern single-toed Equus, showing changes in size, limb structure, and forefoot bones, with illustrations of key ancestral species to scale.

See All Images →

Topics

Eocene Epoch fossil gomphothere mammoth basilosaurid Simocetus Llanocetus denticrenatus sabre-toothed cat Phoberomys cave bear dire wolf Enaliarctos

Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

horse: Evolution of the horse

Sea otter (Enhydra lutris), also called great sea otter, rare, completely marine otter of the northern Pacific, usually found in kelp beds. Floats on back. Looks like sea otter laughing. saltwater otters

Animal Group Names

Mute swan with cygnet. (birds)

Match the Baby Animal to Its Mama Quiz

Lion (panthera leo)

Deadliest Animals Quiz

The bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) is seen in Switzerland on December 2024

Animal Factoids