Definition

A small, early ancestor of modern horses that lived during the Lower Eocene period, characterized by having four toes on the front feet and three toes on the back feet.

Example

The eohippus is often considered the first horse in evolutionary history.

Conversation

Did you know that the eohippus was one of the earliest ancestors of modern horses?

Really? I had no idea they were that old!

Yeah, they lived during the Lower Eocene and were super small.

That’s fascinating! I’d love to see what they looked like.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Eohippus is derived from the Greek "eo" (meaning dawn) and "hippos" (meaning horse). The term refers to the early horse, symbolizing the dawn or beginning of the horse's evolutionary history.

Memory Tip

Think of 'dawn' ('eo') and 'horse' ('hippos') to remember that 'eohippus' refers to the early horse, representing the beginning of its evolution.

Visually Confused Words