Cormohipparion

{{Automatic taxobox

| fossil_range = Mid Miocene-Early Pliocene
(Hemphillian-Blancan)
~{{Fossil range|15.97|3.6}}

| image = Cormohipparion occidentale (sturdy three-toed horse) (Ash Hollow Formation, Miocene, 11.83 Ma; Ashfall Fossil Beds, Nebraska, USA) 4.jpg

| image_caption = C. occidentale skeleton

| display_parents = 2

| taxon = Cormohipparion

| authority = Skinner & MacFadden, 1977

| type_species = †Hipparion occidentale

| subdivision_ranks = Subgenera and species

| subdivision = †Cormohipparion

†C. (C.) cappadocium {{small|Bernor, 2024}}
†C. (C.) fricki {{small|Woodburne, 2007}}
†C. (C.) goorisi {{small|MacFadden & Skinner, 1981}}
†C. (C.) johnsoni {{small|Woodburne, 2007}}
†C. (C.) matthewi {{small|Woodburne, 2007}}
†C. (C.) merriami {{small|Woodburne, 2007}}
†C. (C.) occidentale {{small|(Leidy, 1856) (type)}}
†C. (C.) quinni {{small|Woodburne, 1996}}
†C. (C.) skinneri {{small|Woodburne, 2007}}

†Notiocradohipparion

†C. (N.) plicatile {{small|(Leidy, 1887)}}
†C. (N.) ingenuum {{small|(Leidy, 1885)}}
†C. (N.) emsliei {{small|Hulbert, 1988}}

}}

Cormohipparion (Greek: "noble" (cormo), "pony" (hipparion){{Cite web |last=C. Hulbert Jr. |first=Richard |date=October 17, 2013 |title=Cormohipparion ingenuum |url=https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/florida-vertebrate-fossils/species/cormohipparion-ingenuum/ |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=Florida Vertebrate Fossils |language=en-US}} is an extinct genus of horse belonging to the tribe Hipparionini that lived in North America and Eurasia during the late Miocene to Pliocene (Hemphillian to Blancan in the NALMA classification).{{Cite journal|last1=MacFadden|first1=Bruce J.|last2=Skinner|first2=Morris F.|date=1982|title=Hipparion Horses and Modern Phylogenetic Interpretation: Comments on Forsten's View of Cormohipparion|journal=Journal of Paleontology|volume=56|issue=6|pages=1336–1342|jstor=1304670|issn=0022-3360}} They grew up to {{convert|3|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} long.{{Cite web|title=Region 4: The Great Plains|url=http://geology.teacherfriendlyguide.org/index.php/fossils-sc/fossils-region4-sc|access-date=2021-06-23|website=geology.teacherfriendlyguide.org}}{{Cite journal |date=Fall 2001 |title=Wild Horse Creek #1: A Late Miocene (Clarendonian-Hemphillian) Vertebrate Fossil Assemblage in Roger Mills County, Oklahoma |last1=Czaplewski |first1=Nicholas J. |last2=Thurmond |first2=J. Peter |last3=Wyckoff |first3=Don G. |pages=60–67 |journal=Oklahoma Geology |volume=61 |issue=3 |url=http://ogs.ou.edu/docs/geologynotes/GN-V61N3.pdf}}

Taxonomy

File:Cormohipparion occidentale.jpg

The genus Cormohipparion was coined for the extinct hipparionin horse "Equus" occidentale, described by Joseph Leidy in 1856.{{Cite journal | jstor = 1303763 | pages = 912–926 | title = Cormohipparion n. gen. (Mammalia, Equidae) from the North American Miocene (Barstovian-Clarendonian) | journal = Journal of Paleontology | volume = 51 | issue = 5 | publisher = Paleontological Society | year = 1977| last1 = Skinner | first1 = M. F.| last2 = MacFadden | first2 = B. J.}} However it was soon argued that the partial material fell within the range of morphological variation seen in Hipparion, and that the members of Cormohipparion belonged instead within Hipparion.{{Cite journal | year = 1982| last1 = Forsten | first1 = A.| jstor = 1304669 | publisher = Paleontological Society | issue = 6 | pages = 1332–1335 | title = The Status of the Genus Cormohipparion Skinner and MacFadden (Mammalia, Equidae) | journal = Journal of Paleontology | volume = 56 }}{{Cite journal|last=MacFadden|first=Bruce J.|date=1985|title=Patterns of Phylogeny and Rates of Evolution in Fossil Horses: Hipparions from the Miocene and Pliocene of North America|journal=Paleobiology|volume=11|issue=3|pages=245–257|doi=10.1017/S009483730001157X|jstor=2400665|bibcode=1985Pbio...11..245M |s2cid=89569817 |issn=0094-8373}} This rested on claims that pre-orbital morphology did not have any taxonomic significance, a claim that detailed study of quarry sections later showed to be false.{{Cite journal | jstor = 1304670 | pages = 1336–1342 | title = Hipparion Horses and Modern Phylogenetic Interpretation_ Comments on Forsten's View of Cormohipparion | journal = Journal of Paleontology | volume = 56 | issue = 6 | publisher = Paleontological Society | year = 1982| last1 = MacFadden | first1 = B. J.| last2 = Skinner | first2 = M. F.}} The genus was originally identified by a closed off preorbital fossa, but later examinations of the cheek teeth, specifically the lower cheek teeth, of Cormohipparion specimens found that they were indeed valid and distinct from Hipparion.{{Cite journal|last=Forsten|first=Ann|date=1982|title=The Status of the Genus Cormohipparion Skinner and MacFadden (Mammalia, Equidae)|journal=Journal of Paleontology|volume=56|issue=6|pages=1332–1335|jstor=1304669|issn=0022-3360}} A reappraisal of many horse genera was thus conducted in 1984,{{Cite journal

|year=1984

|journal= American Museum of Natural History

|title=Systematics and phylogeny of Hipparion, Neohipparion, Nannippus, and Cormohipparion (Mammalia, Equidae) from the Miocene and Pliocene of the new world

|author= MacFadden, BJ

}} and the proposed synonymy was not acknowledged by later literature.{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1080/02724634.1988.10011675| jstor = 4523166 | pages = 451–468 | title = A New Cormohipparion (Mammalia, Equidae) from the Pliocene (Latest Hemphillian and Blancan) of Florida | journal = Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology | volume = 7 | issue = 4 | publisher = The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology | year = 1988| last1 = Hulbert Jr | first1 = R. C.| bibcode = 1988JVPal...7..451H }} C. ingenuum holds the distinction for being the first prehistoric horse to be described in Florida, as well as being one of the most common species of extinct three-toed horses found to be in Florida, lasting until the early Pliocene.{{Cite web|date=2017-03-30|title=Cormohipparion ingenuum|url=https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/florida-vertebrate-fossils/species/cormohipparion-ingenuum/|access-date=2021-06-16|website=Florida Museum|language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Late Pliocene (Late Blancan) vertebrates from the St. Petersburg Times site, Pinellas County, Florida, with a brief review of Florida Blancan faunas {{!}} WorldCat.org |url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/Late-Pliocene-(Late-Blancan)-vertebrates-from-the-St.-Petersburg-Times-site-Pinellas-County-Florida-with-a-brief-review-of-Florida-Blancan-faunas/oclc/182860777 |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=search.worldcat.org |language=en}} Cormohipparion emsliei has the distinction of being the last hipparion horse known from the fossil record.{{Cite web|date=2018-02-16|title=Neohipparion|url=https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/fossil-horses/gallery/neohipparion/|access-date=2021-06-26|website=Florida Museum|language=en-US}}

The genus is considered to represent an ancestor to Hippotherium.{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1671/0272-4634(2005)025[0256:ANOOCW]2.0.CO;2 | issn = 0272-4634 | year = 2005 | volume = 25 | pages = 256–257| title = A New Occurrence of Cormohipparion, with Implications for the Old World Hippotherium Datum | last1 = Woodburne | first1 = M. O. | journal = Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology| s2cid = 86241044 }} Its fossils have been recovered from as far south as Mexico.{{Cite journal | first1 = V. M. | last2 = Ferrusquía-Villafranca | first2 = I. | journal = Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology | last1 = Bravo-Cuevas | title = Cormohipparion (Mammalia, Perissodactyla, Equidae) from the Middle Miocene of Oaxaca, Southeastern Mexico | issn = 0272-4634 | year = 2008 | volume = 28 | pages = 243–250 | doi = 10.1671/0272-4634(2008)28[243:CMPEFT]2.0.CO;2| s2cid = 131613568 }} Fossils have been found in the Great Plains and Rio Grande regions of North America, Mexico, Florida, and Texas, which shows that they were herding animals.{{Cite journal|last1=Skinner|first1=Morris F.|last2=MacFadden|first2=Bruce J.|date=1977|title=Cormohipparion n. gen. (Mammalia, Equidae) from the North American Miocene (Barstovian-Clarendonian)|journal=Journal of Paleontology|volume=51|issue=5|pages=912–926|jstor=1303763|issn=0022-3360}}{{Cite journal|last1=Bravo-Cuevas|first1=Victor Manuel|last2=Ferrusquía-Villafranca|first2=Ismael|date=2008|title=Cormohipparion (Mammalia, Perissodactyla, Equidae) from the Middle Miocene of Oaxaca, Southeastern Mexico|journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology|volume=28|issue=1|pages=243–250|doi=10.1671/0272-4634(2008)28[243:CMPEFT]2.0.CO;2|jstor=30126348|s2cid=131613568 |issn=0272-4634}}{{Cite journal|last=Hulbert|first=Richard C.|date=1988|title=A New Cormohipparion (Mammalia, Equidae) from the Pliocene (Latest Hemphillian and Blancan) of Florida|journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology|volume=7|issue=4|pages=451–468|doi=10.1080/02724634.1988.10011675|jstor=4523166|bibcode=1988JVPal...7..451H |issn=0272-4634}}{{Cite journal|last1=MacFadden|first1=Bruce J.|last2=Skinner|first2=Morris F.|date=1981|title=Earliest Holarctic Hipparion, Cormohipparion goorisi n. sp. (Mammalia, Equidae), from the Barstovian (Medial Miocene) Texas Gulf Coastal Plain|journal=Journal of Paleontology|volume=55|issue=3|pages=619–627|jstor=1304276|issn=0022-3360}} Fossils have been unearthed in California,{{Cite journal |last1=WHISTLER |first1=DAVID P. |last2=BURBANK |first2=DOUGLAS W. |date=1992-06-01 |title=Miocene biostratigraphy and biochronology of the Dove Spring Formation, Mojave Desert, California, and characterization of the Clarendonian mammal age (late Miocene) in California |url=https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/gsabulletin/article-abstract/104/6/644/182687/Miocene-biostratigraphy-and-biochronology-of-the?redirectedFrom=fulltext |journal=GSA Bulletin |volume=104 |issue=6 |pages=644–658 |doi=10.1130/0016-7606(1992)104<0644:MBABOT>2.3.CO;2 |bibcode=1992GSAB..104..644W |issn=0016-7606|url-access=subscription }} Louisiana,{{Cite report |url=https://doi.org/10.21236/ada422018 |title=Paleofaunal and Environmental Research on Miocene Fossil Sites TVOR SE and TVOR S on Fort Polk, Louisiana, with Continued Survey, Collection, Processing, and Documentation of other Miocene Localities |last1=Schiebout |first1=Judith A. |last2=Ting |first2=Suyin |last3=Williams |first3=Michael |last4=Boardman |first4=Grant |last5=Gose |first5=Wulf |date=2004-04-01 |publisher=Defense Technical Information Center |location=Fort Belvoir, VA|doi=10.21236/ada422018 |url-access=subscription }}{{Cite web |title=Abstract: TERRESTRIAL CARNIVORES, ARTIODACTYLS, PERISSODACTYLS, AND PROBOSCIDEANS OF THE FORT POLK MIOCENE SITES OF LOUISIANA (South-Central Section - 45th Annual Meeting (27–29 March 2011)) |url=https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2011SC/webprogram/Paper186930.html |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=gsa.confex.com}} Nebraska,{{Cite journal |last=Otto |first=Rick |date=2017-01-01 |title=Five Species of Fossil Equids Preserved In-situ at Ashfall Fossil Beds |url=https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/museumprogram/28/ |journal=University of Nebraska State Museum: Programs Information}}{{Citation |last1=Tucker |first1=S. T. |title=The geology and paleontology of Ashfall Fossil Beds, a late Miocene (Clarendonian) mass-death assemblage, Antelope County and adjacent Knox County, Nebraska, USA |date=2014-01-01 |work=Geologic Field Trips along the Boundary between the Central Lowlands and Great Plains: 2014 Meeting of the GSA North – Central Section |volume=36 |pages=0 |editor-last=Korus |editor-first=Jesse T. |url=https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/books/edited-volume/889/chapter-abstract/4643607/The-geology-and-paleontology-of-Ashfall-Fossil?redirectedFrom=fulltext |access-date=2025-04-09 |publisher=Geological Society of America |isbn=978-0-8137-0036-6 |last2=Otto |first2=R. E. |last3=Joeckel |first3=R. M. |last4=Voorhies |first4=M. R.}} South Dakota,{{Cite journal |last=Pagnac |first=Darrin |title=Additions to the Vertebrate Faunal Assemblage of the Middle Miocene Fort Randall Formation in the Vicinity of South Bijou Hill, South Dakota, U.S.A |url=https://www.academia.edu/2067687}} Honduras,{{Cite journal |last1=Webb |first1=S. David |last2=Perrigo |first2=Stephen C. |date=1984 |title=Late Cenozoic Vertebrates from Honduras and El Salvador |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4522986 |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=237–254 |doi=10.1080/02724634.1984.10012006 |jstor=4522986 |bibcode=1984JVPal...4..237W |issn=0272-4634|url-access=subscription }} Costa Rica,{{Cite journal |last1=Miller |first1=Stephanie |last2=Valerio |first2=Ana L. |last3=Sudasassi |first3=Arturo |last4=Laurito |first4=César A. |date=2022 |title=Cormohipparion quinni (Mammalia, Equidae, Hipparionini) del Mioceno Medio (Barstoviano Tardío) del Norte de Costa Rica |url=https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/geologica/article/view/49763 |journal=Revista geológica de América central |language=es |volume=66 |pages=1–8 |doi=10.15517/rgac.v66i0.49763 |issn=2215-261X|doi-access=free }} and Panama.{{Cite journal |last1=MacFadden |first1=Bruce J. |last2=Jones |first2=Douglas S. |last3=Jud |first3=Nathan A. |last4=Moreno-Bernal |first4=Jorge W. |last5=Morgan |first5=Gary S. |last6=Portell |first6=Roger W. |last7=Perez |first7=Victor J. |last8=Moran |first8=Sean M. |last9=Wood |first9=Aaron R. |date=2017 |title=Integrated Chronology, Flora and Faunas, and Paleoecology of the Alajuela Formation, Late Miocene of Panama |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=e0170300 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0170300 |doi-access=free |issn=1932-6203 |pmc=5249130 |pmid=28107398|bibcode=2017PLoSO..1270300M }} Fossils have also been found in India and Turkey.{{Cite journal |last=Basu |first=Prabir Kumar |date=2004-01-01 |title=Siwalik mammals of the Jammu Sub-Himalaya, India: an appraisal of their diversity and habitats |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1040618203001204 |journal=Quaternary International |series=5th International conference on the cenozoic evolution of the Asia-Pacific environment |volume=117 |issue=1 |pages=105–118 |doi=10.1016/S1040-6182(03)00120-4 |bibcode=2004QuInt.117..105B |issn=1040-6182|url-access=subscription }}{{Cite journal |last1=Bernor |first1=Raymond Louis |last2=Ataabadi |first2=Majid Mirzaie |last3=Basoglu |first3=Oksan |last4=Cirilli |first4=Omar |last5=Kaya |first5=Ferhat |last6=Pehlevan |first6=Cesur |last7=Niknahad |first7=Mansoureh |last8=Vaziri |first8=Mohammad Reza |last9=Arab |first9=Ahmad Lotfabad |date=November 2024 |title=Cormohipparion cappadocium, a new species from the Late Miocene of Yeniyaylacık, Türkiye, and the emergence of western Eurasian hipparion bioprovinciality |url=https://bioone.org/journals/annales-zoologici-fennici/volume-61/issue-1/086.061.0119/Cormohipparion-cappadocium-a-new-species-from-the-Late-Miocene-of/10.5735/086.061.0119.short |journal=Annales Zoologici Fennici |language=en |volume=61 |issue=1 |doi=10.5735/086.061.0119 |issn=0003-455X |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250329100447/https://bioone.org/journals/annales-zoologici-fennici/volume-61/issue-1/086.061.0119/Cormohipparion-cappadocium-a-new-species-from-the-Late-Miocene-of/10.5735/086.061.0119.short |archive-date=2025-03-29|url-access=subscription }}

Evolution

File:Ashfall Fossil Beds - Teleoceras and Cormohipparion.jpg from the Ashfall Fossil Beds]]

A species of Cormohipparion closely related to C. occidentale is thought to have crossed the Bering land Bridge over into Eurasia around 11.4-11 million years ago, becoming the ancestor to Old World hipparionines.{{Cite journal |last1=Bernor |first1=Raymond L. |last2=Kaya |first2=Ferhat |last3=Kaakinen |first3=Anu |last4=Saarinen |first4=Juha |last5=Fortelius |first5=Mikael |date=October 2021 |title=Old world hipparion evolution, biogeography, climatology and ecology |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0012825221002853 |journal=Earth-Science Reviews |language=en |volume=221 |pages=103784 |doi=10.1016/j.earscirev.2021.103784|bibcode=2021ESRv..22103784B }}