Archaeohippus is an extinct three toed member of the familyEquidae known from fossils of early Oligocene to middleMiocene age. The genus is noted for several distinctskeletalfeatures. The skull possesses deeply pocketed fossa in a notably long preorbital region. The genus is considered an example of phyletic dwarfism with adults estimated at being on average 20kg in weight. This is in contrast to the most common equid of the period, Miohippus. Characters of the teeth show a mix of both primitive and advanced traits. The advanced traits are very similar to those shown in the genus Parahippus. The noted similarities of Archaeohippus and Parahippus show them to be descended from a common ancestor and are considered sister species.
Taxonomic history
The first species to be named was found in the Miocene Mascall Fauna of Cottonwood Creek, Oregon. Named Anchitherium ultimus the species was described in 1886 by noted paleontologist, E. D. Cope during the height of the Bone wars. During study 1906 on the Mascall formation equids, J. Gidley moved to a new genus he named Archaeohippus. The strong similarity of the traits resulted in the genus being considered a subgenus of Parahippus by W. D. Matthew in 1932. In stark contrast of opinion Archaeohippus was revalidated by D.F. Bode in 1933, and along with A. ultimus, he included A. mourningi and A. penultimus. Archaeohippus ranged across all of North America. In addition to the occurrences in Florida and Oregon, fossil specimens have been found in Southern Saskatchewan, Canada. At the other end of its range Archaeohippus have been found as far south as the Miocene Gaillard Cut local in the former canalzone of Panama. "Archaeohippus" stenolophus, known from Oligocene deposits in Saskatchewan, does not belong in Archaeohippus, and A. minimus is a composite of two taxa, as noted by Osborn, with the P3-M1 belonging to A. ultimus and the molar and premolar belonging to a larger, more derived equid. In at least part of its range Archaeohippus dwelt in a forested or wooded habitat.
