Horse Evolution

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

Make an inference, by filling in the blanks, as to why the size of the modern day horse evolved.

The modern day horse became taller, wider and more muscular which 

leads scientists to infer that the _______________source increased. The 

modern day horse also became taller as the _________________grew in 

length.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Compare the neck of the early horse to the modern day horse and make an inference, by filling in the blanks, as to why the neck evolved over time

The early horse was _________________and ________________to the 

ground so it could reach its ________________. As the modern day horse 

grew ________________, it could no longer reach its food. The neck had 

to grow _________________to extend down and reach its 

________________. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Which best describes how the legs of the horse evolved over time to the modern day horse’s legs?

•  The legs became shorter and less muscular

• The legs became longer and more muscular

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Compare the legs of the early horse to the modern day horse and make an inference, by filling in the blanks, as to why the legs evolved over time.

The early horse had _____________legs. The early horse could 

_________________from predators due to its ____________size.The legs 

became ________________and more ________________. This 

allows the modern day horse to ________________for protection from 

_____________because it is too big to hide. The longer and 

________________legs also help support the ________________of the 

modern day horse.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Which best describes how the teeth of the horse evolved over time?

• The early horse had small teeth that later evolved into longer, wider and stronger teeth

• The early horse had no teeth and later evolved to have small teeth.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

What is the primary reason for the evolutionary changes observed in horses over millions of years?

• Natural selection due to environmental changes

• Genetic mutations without environmental influence

• Human intervention through selective breeding

• Random chance without any specific cause

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Which of the following is a significant anatomical change in the evolution of horses?

• Development of multiple toes into a single hoof

• Increase in the number of teeth

• Reduction in body size

• Development of wings

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2