| Equus suessenbornensis Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Perissodactyla |
| Family: | Equidae |
| Genus: | Equus |
| Species: | †E. suessenbornensis |
| Binomial name | |
| †Equus suessenbornensis Wüst, 1900 | |
Equus suessenbornensis is an extinct species of large equine native to Western Eurasia, including Europe, during the Early Pleistocene to early Middle Pleistocene.
The species was first described in 1900 based on remains found at the Sussenborn locality in Germany, [1] dating to the early Middle Pleistocene, around 640–620,000 years ago. Many authors have argued that Equus suessenbornensis should be considered related to other "stenonine" equines from the Early Pleistocene of Europe, such as Equus stenonis, though some authors have argued it should be classified in the subgenus Sussemionus. Recent authors have proposed a particularly close relationship to Equus major , a "stenonine" equine known from the first half of the Early Pleistocene in Europe. [2]
Equus suessenbornensis was a large sized equine having an estimated body mass over 500 kilograms (1,100 lb), with some individuals exceeding 650 kilograms (1,430 lb) making it larger than any other known "stenonine" other than Equus major. The species is distinguished from other equines by a number of characters of the morphology of the teeth. The metapodial bones of the feet tend to be elongate, with a large diaphysis (midsection) and wide epiphyses (end sections). [2]
Equuss suessenbornensis is known from remains found across Europe, spanning from Britain, France and Spain in the west, eastwards to Italy and Greece, and northwards to Germany and the Czech Republic, with possible remains being known from Moldova. Remains are also known from the Akhalkalaki site in Georgia in the Caucasus. The chronology of the species spans from the mid-Early Pleistocene around 1.5 million years ago, until the early Middle Pleistocene, around 600,000 years ago, around the time of arrival of caballine true horses into Europe, assigned to the species Equus mosbachensis . [2]
Equus suessenbornensis is primarily associated with open woodland environments, though it was also found in open environments as well as forested environments. Dental wear analysis suggests that it was primarily a mixed feeder (engaging in both browsing and grazing), though some populations were alternatively found to be primarily browsers or grazers. [2] It often co-occurred with the smaller "stenonine" equine Equus altidens , which dental wear analysis indicates had a more grazing focused diet on average, suggesting dietary niche partitioning between the two species. [2] [3]
The onager (Equus hemionus), also known as hemione or Asiatic wild ass, is a species of the family Equidae native to Asia. A member of the subgenus Asinus, the onager was described and given its binomial name by German zoologist Peter Simon Pallas in 1775. Six subspecies have been recognized, two of which are extinct.
Equus is a genus of mammals in the family Equidae, which includes horses, asses, and zebras. Within the Equidae, Equus is the only recognized extant genus, comprising seven living species. Like Equidae more broadly, Equus has numerous extinct species known only from fossils. The genus originated in North America and dispersed into the Old World and South America during the Early and Middle Pleistocene. Equines are odd-toed ungulates with slender legs, long heads, relatively long necks, manes, and long tails. All species are herbivorous, and mostly grazers, with simpler digestive systems than ruminants but able to subsist on lower-quality vegetation.
Equus scotti is an extinct species of horse native to Pleistocene North America.
The wild horse is a species of the genus Equus, which includes as subspecies the modern domesticated horse as well as the endangered Przewalski's horse. The European wild horse, also known as the tarpan, that went extinct in the late 19th or early 20th century has previously been treated as the nominate subspecies of wild horse, Equus ferus ferus, but more recent studies have cast doubt on whether tarpans were truly wild or if they actually were feral horses or hybrids.
Equus lambei, commonly known as the Yukon horse or Yukon wild horse, is an extinct species of the genus Equus. Equus lambei ranged across North America until approximately 10,000 years ago. Based on recent examinations of the mtDNA of Equus lambei remains, scientists have concluded that E. lambei was probably much like the extinct tarpan, also known as the Eurasian wild horse, and the living Przewalski's horse. A partial carcass of Equus lambei is on display at the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre in Whitehorse, Yukon.
The European wild ass or hydruntine is an extinct equine from the Middle Pleistocene to Late Holocene of Europe and West Asia, and possibly North Africa. It is a member of the subgenus Asinus, and closely related to the living Asiatic wild ass. The specific epithet, hydruntinus, means from Otranto.
Equus sivalensis is an extinct species of large equid native to the northern Indian subcontinent. Remains date from the beginning of the Pleistocene, c. 2.58 million years ago until around 600,000 years ago, during the Middle Pleistocene. It is considered a "stenonine horse", meaning that it is more closely related to zebras and asses than true horses. Based on isotopes and teeth morphology, it is thought to have been a grazer. The later species Equus namadicus from the same region has sometimes been suggested to be a synonym due to their similar teeth morphology.
Equus namadicus is a prehistoric equid, known from remains dating to the Middle and Late Pleistocene from across the Indian subcontinent, with its last dated records being approximately 29-14,000 years ago. It is considered a "stenonine horse", meaning that it is probably more closely related to zebras and asses than true horses. It is relatively large in size. It is very similar to the earlier Equus sivalensis, also from the Indian subcontinent, from which it only differs in size and in subtle aspects of dental anatomy, and it has sometimes been suggested to be a synonym of it.
Hippidion is an extinct genus of equine that lived in South America from the Late Pliocene to the end of the Late Pleistocene (Lujanian), between 2.5 million and 11,000 years ago. They were one of two lineages of equines native to South America during the Pleistocene epoch, alongside Equus (Amerhippus) neogeus.
The evolution of the horse, a mammal of the family Equidae, occurred over a geologic time scale of 50 million years, transforming the small, dog-sized, forest-dwelling Eohippus into the modern horse. Paleozoologists have been able to piece together a more complete outline of the evolutionary lineage of the modern horse than of any other animal. Much of this evolution took place in North America, where horses originated but became extinct about 10,000 years ago, before being reintroduced in the 15th century.
Equus simplicidens, also known as the Hagerman horse is an extinct species of equine native to North America during the Pliocene and Early Pleistocene. It is one of the oldest and most primitive members of the genus Equus. It is the state fossil of Idaho, where abundant remains of the species were discovered near the town of Hagerman in 1928.
Hippotherium is an extinct genus of horse that lived in during the Miocene through Pliocene ~13.65—6.7 Mya, existing for 6.95 million years.
Equus neogeus is an extinct species of equine native to South America during the Pleistocene. It was formerly thought to be several distinct species within the subgenus Amerhippus, but was later shown to be a single morphologically variable species. It is thought to be closely related to true horses.
Hipparionini is a tribe of three-toed horses in the subfamily Equinae. They had body forms similar to modern equines, with high-crowned teeth. They first appeared in North America during the Early Miocene around 17 million years ago, before migrating into the Old World around 11.4-11.0 million years ago. The youngest species date to the Early Pleistocene, becoming extinct following the arrives of modern equines of the genus Equus to the Old World.
Stephanorhinus kirchbergensis, also known as Merck's rhinoceros is an extinct species of rhinoceros belonging to the genus Stephanorhinus from the Early-Middle to Late Pleistocene of Eurasia. Its range spanned from Western Europe to Eastern Asia. Among the last members of the genus, it co-existed alongside Stephanorhinus hemitoechus in the western part of its range.
Equus stenonis is an extinct species of equine that lived in Western Eurasia during the Early Pleistocene.
The giant horse is an extinct species of horse which lived in North America.
Equus lenensis, commonly known as the Lena horse, is an extinct species of horse from the Late Pleistocene and Holocene of Siberia. Some sources have considered it a subspecies of the wild horse. The species is known from several preserved frozen specimens.
Equus altidens is an extinct species of equine native to western Eurasia including Europe during the Early Pleistocene to early Middle Pleistocene.
Equus major is an extinct species of large equine native to Europe during the Early Pleistocene epoch.