| Scientific
Classification History
and Distribution
Physical
Characteristics
Senses
Behavior
Diet and Eating Habitats
Birth and Care of Young
Longevity and
Causes of Death
The Anheuser-Busch
Clydesdale Teams
Bibliography
Home
|
|
- A. Class – Mammalia.
- B. Order – Perissodactyla
- This order is comprised of odd-toed hoofed mammals including horses, rhinos and tapirs.
In past geologic times its members were made more numerous and widespread than they are
today.
-
- C. Family – Equidae.
- This family contains seven species including horses, zebras and wild asses.
-
- D. Genus, species – Equus caballus.
- There are at least 111 recognized breeds of domesticated horses including thoroughbreds,
Suffolks, quarterhorses, Arabians and Clydesdales.
-
- E. Fossil record.
- The domesticated horse has evolved from the now extinct form Eohippus, first recorded
about 40 million years ago during the Eocene period. Eohippus was a small foxlike animal,
also known as the dawn horse.
- Some scientists believe that domesticated horses are descendents of the
Przewalski’s horse (Equus przewalskii).
Above: Clydesdales were originally bred for hauling coal and doing farm work.
|
|
|
