ANS 3216 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Eohippus, Dewclaw, Dinohippus
Document Summary
*the horse has had the biggest impact on evolution of mankind. Defined a change in genetic composition of a population over successive generations. Can be caused by natural selection: natural selection=darwinism o. Favorite food of a large species will die out by natural selection due to less protection, or overrun by the species higher in the food chain, as they are unable to reproduce fast enough. Can be caused by artificial selection o o o o. 50 million years from eohippus to today"s modern horse. Leg bones are a great example of evolution of the horse starting with their toes, but expanding to their teeth. 3 toes on back, 4 toes in front. 3 incisors, 1 canine, 4 premolars, etc. Some point probably had 5, because the eohippus has a nub that is a pointless toe. Hippos, rhinos, tapirs, zebras, donkeys - all came from horses. Two closest relatives are rhinos and tapirs.