The Miohippus was responsible for a great deal of diversity within the equidae horse family. From them over a dozen different genera branched out. These animals lived around 32-25 million years ago during the Oligocene.
Widespread Reach
One of the more successful of all the prehistoric horses, most of the the Miohippus species were indigenous to the plains of North America.
Miohippus evolved from the earlier Mesohippus, but with updated dentition and fewer toes.
Speeding Things Up
Fewer toes enabled Miohippus to run considerably faster than their ancestors which was partially responsible for their success. Their species persisted until the existence of of the one toed ancestors of domestic horse.
Not An Exact Science
Sadly we didn’t have scientists millions of years ago, so trying to piece together the history of horses is tricky business. There is a considerable amount of controversy when it comes to the taxonomy & lineage of extinct equidae. Be sure to meet some of the others like Mesohippus, Orohippus, Eohippus and Hipparion.