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Glite Dictionary
protohippus

protohippus

9.9
A small extinct horse that lived millions of years ago, about the size of a donkey
  • noun
  • /ˌproʊtoʊˈhɪpəs/
  • Specialized
: protohippus
  • Museums often display skeletons of protohippus to illustrate the evolution of horses.

Examples

  • Scientists believe that protohippus was significantly smaller than modern horses.

  • The protohippus lived during the Pliocene epoch.

  • The fossil remains of protohippus suggest it was well-adapted to grassland environments.

  • Fossils of the protohippus have been found in North America.

  • Museums often display skeletons of protohippus to illustrate the evolution of horses.

  • Scientists believe that protohippus was significantly smaller than modern horses.

  • The fossil remains of protohippus suggest it was well-adapted to grassland environments.

Surface Forms

protohippus singular
protohippi plural

Etymology

Protohippus comes from two Greek parts: proto- meaning 'first' (as in prototype) and hippos meaning 'horse' (you also see hippo- in hippopotamus, 'river horse'). So the name says 'early horse', which fits this small, extinct horse from long ago.