hyracotherium

hy·ra·co·ther·i·um

 (hī′rə-kō-thîr′ē-əm)

n.

A small herbivorous equid of the genus Hyracotherium (syn. Eohippus) of the Eocene Epoch, having an arched back, relatively short neck, four-toed front feet, and three-toed hind feet.

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[New Latin Hyracothērium, genus name : hyrax, hyrac-, hyrax (from certain shared skeletal characteristics); see hyrax + Greek thērion, wild beast; see treacle.]

hy·ra·co·the·ri·um

(hī′rə-kō-thîr′ē-əm)

Plural hyracotheria

A small primitive horse that lived about 50 million years ago during the early Eocene Epoch. It had three or four hoofed toes on each foot and is sometimes considered the ancestor of modern horses. It is sometimes called the "dawn horse," a translation of its earlier scientific name, Eohippus.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

Hyracotherium - extinct horse genus; formerly called eohippus genus Hyracotherium mammal genus - a genus of mammals Equidae, family Equidae - horses; asses; zebras; extinct animals dawn horse, eohippus - earliest horse; extinct primitive dog-sized four-toed Eocene animal