Equus suessenbornensis
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| Equus suessenbornensis Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Perissodactyla |
| Family: | Equidae |
| Genus: | Equus |
| Species: | †E. suessenbornensis |
| Binomial name | |
| †Equus suessenbornensis Wüst, 1900 | |
Equus suessenbornensis is an extinct species of large equine native to Western Eurasia, including Europe, during the Early Pleistocene to early Middle Pleistocene.
The species was first described in 1900 based on remains found at the Sussenborn locality in Germany,[1] dating to the early Middle Pleistocene, around 640–620,000 years ago. Many authors have argued that Equus suessenbornensis should be considered related to other "stenonine" equines from the Early Pleistocene of Europe, such as Equus stenonis, though some authors have argued it should be classified in the subgenus Sussemionus. Recent authors have proposed a particularly close relationship to Equus major , a "stenonine" equine known from the first half of the Early Pleistocene in Europe.[2]
Description
Equus suessenbornensis was a large sized equine having an estimated body mass over 500 kilograms (1,100 lb), with some individuals exceeding 650 kilograms (1,430 lb) making it larger than any other known "stenonine" other than Equus major. The species is distinguished from other equines by a number of characters of the morphology of the teeth. The metapodial bones of the feet tend to be elongate, with a large diaphysis (midsection) and wide epiphyses (end sections).[2]