INFOGRAPHIC 16.2 FOSSILS REVEAL CHANGES IN SPECIES OVER TIME
The fossil record of horses supports the theory of descent with modification. Forelimb fossils are similar to one another, but show changes over time from the earliest horse ancestors to modern-day horses as species diverged from a common ancestor. In the fossil record we can observe over time a reduction in toe number, as the central toe became dominant, allowing horses to move more rapidly in new prairie-like environments.
The fossil record of horses supports the theory of descent with modification. Forelimb fossils are similar to one another, but show changes over time from the earliest horse ancestors to modern-day horses as species diverged from a common ancestor. In the fossil record we can observe over time a reduction in toe number, as the central toe became dominant, allowing horses to move more rapidly in new prairie-like environments.
