Essay on evolution of the horse - 732 Words

evolution of the horse #65279;For many people, the horse family remains the classic example of evolution. As more and more horse fossils have been found, some ideas about horse evolution have changed, but the horse family remains a good example of evolution. In fact, we now have enough fossils of enough species in enough genera to examine details of evolutionary change. Evolution does not occur in a straight line toward a goal, like a ladder; rather, evolution is like a branching bush, with no predetermined goal. Horse species were constantly branching off the evolutionary tree and evolving along various unrelated routes. There’s no discernable straight line of horse evolution. Many horse species were usually present†¦show more content†¦Most of the recent horses were three-toed, not one-toed, and we see a trend to one toe only because all the three-toed line have recently become extinct. Additionally, these traits do not necessarily evolve together, or at a steady rate. The various morphological characters each evolve in fits and starts, and did not evolve as a suite of characters. For example, throughout the Eocene, the feet changed a little, and only the teeth evolved. Throughout the Miocene, both feet and teeth evolved rapidly. Rates of evolution depend on the ecological pressures facing the species. Sometimes, new species split off from their ancestors and then co-existed with those ancestors. Other species came into being through anagenetic transformation of the ancestor had changed appearance enough to be given a new name. Sometimes only one or a few species arose, sometimes there were long periods of stasis, and sometimes thee were enormous bursts of evolution, when new ecological opportunities arose such as, the Merychippine Radiation. Again, evolution proceeds according to the ecological pressures facing the individuals of a species and on the variation present within that species. Evolution takes place in the real world, with diverse rates and modes, and cannot be reduced to a single, simple process. Creationists who wish to deny the evidence of horse evolution should carefully consider the explanation of the sequence ofShow MoreRelatedThe Evolution of a Horse Essay924 Words   |  4 PagesThe Evolution of a Horse Throughout history, humans have depended on the horse. Horses have contributed to the growth of humankind as transportation, farm workers, and battle steeds. They have been trained to support humans in many ways. When did this relationship begin? At what point did the horse become a vital part of human society? Exploring the evolution of the horse can help to answer these questions. 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