| Parahippus leonensis Temporal range: Miocene |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Herbivore |
| Family: | Equidae |
| Subfamily: | †Anchitheriinae |
| Genus: | †Parahippus |
| Species: | †P. leonensis Sellards, 1916 |
| Binomial name | |
| †Parahippus leonensis |
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Parahippus leonensis is an extinct proto-horse of the family Equidae that was endemic to North America during the Miocene from 23.030—16.3 Ma living for approximately 6.73 million years.[1]
Parahippus leonensis was named for Leon or more specifically Leon County, Florida.[2]
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Parahippus leonensis was named by Sellards (1916). Its type specimen is FGS 5084. Its type locality is Griscom Plantation site, which is in a Miocene marine limestone in the Torreya Formation of Florida. It was recombined as Hippodon leonensis by Quinn (1955); it was considered a nomen dubium by Macdonald (1992).[3]
Two specimens were examined by M. Mendoza, C. M. Janis, and P. Palmqvist for body mass.[4] The results were:
Parahippus leonensis was the next step in evolution after Miohippus. Parahippus means "side horse" and has been called the evolutionary link between the older forest-dwelling horses and modern plains-dwelling grazers. It is believed to be a close relative to the group from which modern horses evolved.[5][6] Side may refer to side branches on the posterior crest of the upper molars which separated Parahippus from Anchitherium.
This genus of horses had a long head with eyes situated back from the middle of the skull. It had three toes, like other primitive horses, however Parahippus leonensis had smaller side toes. It was a common species from the Great Plains to Florida. Parahippus leonensis weighed in at about 72.5 Kg (160 pounds).[7]
Parahippus leonensis was very likely the prey of Amphicyon or Bear-dog, and dog-like Temnocyon.