The modern horse is a mostly field-dwelling land-mammal. They are herbivores, meaning they only eat plants, so they have long, flat teeth for chewing flora. The horse has a thin coat and relatively boney, albeit powerful legs for quickly dashing through its habitat. It is believed to have evolved from a cat-sized ancestor, which fluctuated in size due to the vast quantities of carbon dioxide at the time.
Because of current global warming, the water level begins to rise, the modern horses are forced to migrate to the mountains (specifically the Himalayas in this instance), separating them from where they used to live. This forces them to adapt to this new environment and will change the course of their evolution.
The first adaptation that manifests over a long period of time, is longer fur. This is because the colder temperatures in mountain ranges demand it. The horses with better warmth survive and continue to pass on their superior genes until their average fur is significantly longer and thicker. In the same way, horses develop larger, more powerful lungs to breathe better the light air of the high region. Lastly at this time range, will be a minor mass shrinkage of about 20%. You see, millions of years ago, the modern horse's ancestor shrunk 30% in just 130,000 years! This was caused by the vast amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which is now increasing once more. Lastly, the different terrain would take a liking to thicker, more mountain-ready legs.
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A major change would be because of the lesser amount of grass. They would have to switch to a more omnivorous diet. This flip may likely require mixed teeth like ours. The horses with flat AND somewhat sharper teeth, as well as better meat digestion would pass on their genes continuously. Another result of this diet modification might be the forward migration and rotation of their eyes.
Finally, as herbivores, the modern horses are more prey than predator. Like much other prey, they have eyes that are on the sides of their heads to see all around to watch for dangers. However, becoming omnivores would, though not too much, prefer a medium ground between front-eyes (for hunting other animals) and side-eyes.
Finally, as herbivores, the modern horses are more prey than predator. Like much other prey, they have eyes that are on the sides of their heads to see all around to watch for dangers. However, becoming omnivores would, though not too much, prefer a medium ground between front-eyes (for hunting other animals) and side-eyes.
After many, many years, the temperature will return to its current state, or at least somewhere around it. The water level could lower and allow this new evolution of the horse, called the Kiylack to return to the surface and meet its evolutionary cousin. But because of their adaptation the Kiylack would face a special division from this relative and be unable to reproduce with it. They have evolved into an entirely new species through natural-selection.
Bibliography:
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"HubPages." HubPages. HubPages, n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2016.
#2
"Research Areas." Evolution of Earliest Horses Driven by Climate Change. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2016.
#3
"The Evolution of Horses." AMNH. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2016.
#1
"HubPages." HubPages. HubPages, n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2016.
#2
"Research Areas." Evolution of Earliest Horses Driven by Climate Change. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2016.
#3
"The Evolution of Horses." AMNH. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2016.