South American Half Skull Fossil

South American Half Skull Fossil

Hippidion, also known as South American horse, is a member of the horse family in the order of odd hooves. In the mid-19th century, some horse fossils were discovered on the grasslands of South America and handed over to British paleontologist Richard Owen. After restoration, Owen found that they were similar to modern horses, but smaller in size and were ponies, commonly translated as South American horses in China. The body size is not as big as a donkey, with a shoulder height of less than 1.4 meters and a weight of over 200 kilograms. The body shape of a South American horse is similar to that of a pony, with a short and sturdy body, short limbs, and a large head, making it look uncoordinated. Like modern horses, it is suitable for gnawing on hard grass rich in silicon.