New remains of middle Miocene equids from the Cajon Valley Formation, San Bernardino National Forest, San Bernardino County, California, USA

Stoneburg, Brittney E.; McDonald, Andrew T.; Dooley, Alton C.; Scott, Eric; Hohman, Charlotte J.H.

doi:10.5070/p9381052265

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“…This was based upon its distal phalanx III matching the hoof impression closely, albeit a bit snuggly suggesting a very narrow hoof wall [25,32], as opposed to the slightly smaller species Scaphohippus sumani, or the much larger Hypohippus affinis and Megahippus mckennai, found nearby in strata of a similar geological age. However, a recent study with which we agree argues that the S. intermontanus material should be reassigned to S. sumani due to intraspecific variability in tooth complexity between the two populations [63]. In fact, Merriam [64] only distinguished the postcrania of the two merychippine species by size, wherein larger material was assigned to S. intermontanus and smaller material to S. sumani [64] The size of the Scaphohippus sumani printmaker can be estimated from cranial and postcranial material, as well as the prints, according to the method described above.…”

Section: Lateral Gaits In Fossil Horsesmentioning

confidence: 48%

New Studies on the Gaits Displayed by Miocene, Pliocene, and Pleistocene Fossil Horse Trackways

Renders,

Vincelette

2023

Veterinary Medicine and Science

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The authors here apply a refined methodology to determine the gaits of fossil equids. Miocene trackways of Cremohipparion near Jumilla, Spain, contain three sets of tracks of equids trotting at around 2.9–3.4 m/s, crossed by another three sets of tracks of perhaps younger equids at play galloping at around 5.2–5.6 m/s. Other Miocene trackways include three sets of Hippotherium near Osoppo, Italy, galloping at around 6.2–6.5 m/s, and one of Scaphohippus from Barstow, California, in the United States, likely engaged in a rack (or less likely a trot) at 2.1 m/s. Pliocene trackways include one Hipparion near Elche, Spain, trotting at around 3.5 m/s, and three trackways of Eurygnathohippus from Laetoli, Tanzania, of equids racking (with one perhaps engaged in a running walk) at around 2.1–3.1 m/s, including tracks of what is likely a foal being supervised by its mare. Finally, a Pleistocene trackway of Equus near Cardston, Alberta, Canada, shows a horse in a gallop at around 6.6 m/s. Hence, Miocene to Pleistocene fossil trackways reveal that equids in the past possessed standard gaits (trot, gallop) as well as alternative lateral gaits (rack), and had similar herding behaviors found in modern horses today.

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