Equidae
Equidae is a family of hoofed mammals that includes horses, asses, and zebras. Living equids are large, single-toed herbivores in the genus Equus.
Equus: The only living genus of equids, including horses, asses, and zebras. All living members of Equidae belong to this genus.
Unguligrade: A form of locomotion in which an animal walks on the tips of its toes, enclosed by hooves. Equids bear weight on a single enlarged, hoof-covered toe.
Evolution of the horse: The evolutionary history of horses and their relatives, documented by an extensive fossil record. Equidae’s changing teeth and limbs make its evolution unusually well documented.
Domestication of the horse: The process by which humans bred and managed horses as domestic animals. Horse domestication transformed one equid lineage into a global partner in transport and work.
Equid hybrid: An offspring produced by crossing members of different equid species or populations. Hybridization complicates efforts to draw boundaries among closely related equids.
Horse: A domesticated equid, Equus caballus, used for riding, work, sport, and companionship. Horses are the most extensively domesticated living members of the family.
Cursoriality: Anatomical and physiological adaptations for sustained running on land. Long limbs and efficient strides help equids escape predators across open ground.
Hyracotherium: An extinct early equid genus represented by small mammals with multiple toes and low-crowned teeth. Its fossils illustrate traits unlike those of living one-toed equids.
Przewalski's horse: A wild horse native to the steppes of Central Asia, classified as Equus przewalskii. It is a surviving wild equid lineage distinct from domestic horses.
Equine genomics: The study of equid genomes and how genetic variation relates to ancestry and traits. Genomic evidence continues to refine equid relationships and domestication history.