S.No

Fossil/Genus

Period

Character

1

Hyrocotherium or Eohippus/Dawn Horse

(40 cm)

N. America

Eocene

60 million years

Fox/small dog size short head and neck, molars were short

The forefeet were with four complete fingers (2, 3, 4 and 5)

and one splint of first fingers and hindlimbs with three functional toes (2, 3, and 4) and 1 and 5 toes are splint.

2

Mesohippus

(60 cm)

Oligocene

40 million years

Modem sheep size, forelimbs had three fingers and one splint of fifth finger and hindlimbs possessed three toes, but

the middle one was longer.

3

Merychippus / (Miohippus)

Ruminating horse

(100 em)

Miocene

25 million years

Size of ass, longer neck, the middle finger and toe being longer then others and supported entire body length.

4

Pliohippus / Toes horse (120 cm)

Pliocene

10 million years

Size slightly large than ass, Each fore and hindlimbs had one complete finger and toe and two splints hidden beneath

skin.

5

Equus

Modem horse

(150 cm)

Pleistocene

1 million years

Long head and neck, each fore and hind limbs has one finger and one toe and two splints.