| abstract | - Mesohippus had longer legs than its predecessor Eohippus and stood about 60 cm {6 hands} tall. It had also lost a toe and stood predominantly on its middle toe, although the other two were also used.[2] The face of Mesohippus was longer and larger than earlier equids. It had a slight facial fossa, or depression, in the skull. The eyes were rounder, and were set wider apart and farther back than in Hyracotherium. Unlike earlier horses, its teeth were low crowned and contained a single gap behind the front teeth, where the bit now rests in the modern horse. In addition, it had another grinding tooth, making a total of six. Mesohippus was a browser that fed on tender twigs and fruit.[2] The cerebral hemisphere, or cranial cavity, was notably larger than that of its predecessors; its brain was similar to that of modern horses.
- File:Mesohippus.jpgMesohippus is Greek for middle horse. It had three toes and existed in the late Oligocene Epoch (37-26 million years ago). It was the size of a large goat and ate leaves and plains grasses. It lived in fields near thin copses of trees. It existed 35-40million years ago. Unlike its predecessor its legs were longer and now only had 3 legs on the front feet. It's teeth changed to incisors and molars and the gap where we now place the modern horses bit had formed. Its eyes were further apart (and back) than the Eohippus. It's speed had also increased to escape predators. 30 million years ago, Mesohippus, or 'Middle Horse', was as big as one of today's sheep, with longer legs. The middle toe was the beginning of the hoof.
- Mesohippus are one of the many herbivorous animals in the Lost Valley.
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