Evolution of the Horse

Which of the following would be an example of homologous structures?

• the trunk of an elephant, the snout of a pig, and the nose of a dog

• the wings of a bat and the wings of a butterfly

• the tale of a dolphin and the hump on a camel’s back

• the arm bones of an ape and the front leg bones of a horse

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Evolutionary biologists say that similarities between different species are evidence of which of the following?

• Organs shrinking and losing their function

• Formation of the first cell in an organic soup

• The presence of a common ancestor in a species

• The concept that life comes only from life

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-3

What are some changes that have occurred in the Horse over time?

• teeth, feet, body

• hair, color, feet

• body, feet, color

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

What do we call a change in a species over time?

• Adaptation

• Evolution

• Extinction

• Environmental influences

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

What caused the Horse and Whale to evolve?

• They wanted to become bigger so they ate as much as they could.

• Their environments changed so they had to adapt.

• They wanted to look different so they changed their appearance.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Which of these best represents a time period in which an organism could evolve?

• 5 days

• 100 years

• 10,000 years

• 2 decades

Which of the following is a direct ancestor of the modern horse?

• Eohippus

• Merychippus

• Pliohippus

• Equus

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

What significant change occurred in the evolution of horse teeth?

• They became sharper for cutting meat

• They developed ridges for grinding grass

• They became smaller and less complex

• They evolved to be more brittle

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Which evolutionary adaptation helped horses run faster?

• Development of a larger brain

• Reduction of toes to a single hoof

• Growth of a longer tail

• Increase in body size

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

What was the primary diet of early horse ancestors like Eohippus?

• Carnivorous diet

• Herbivorous diet

• Omnivorous diet

• Insectivorous diet