Definition
Genus Mesohippus refers to an extinct genus of horses that lived during the Oligocene epoch. Imagine a sheep-sized horse! It was larger than its predecessor, Eohippus. Mesohippus represents a step in the evolutionary journey of horses. It had three toes on each foot, a reduction from earlier forms. This genus provides crucial insights into the transition from small, forest-dwelling creatures to the larger, grazing animals we know today. Think of it as a mid-stage prototype.