Equidae

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/equidae

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Equidae
2. What is the lifespan?Wild equids typically live 20-30 years; domestic horses often exceed 25-30 years
3. What animals are in the Equidae family?The Equidae family includes horses, zebras, and donkeys. They all share similar body shapes and habits.
4. How did horses change over millions of years?Early horses were small and had many toes. Over time they grew longer legs, a single hoof, and high‑crowned teeth to eat grass.

Cursorial Locomotion: Adaptations for running, such as long limbs and a single hoof, characteristic of equids.
Hypsodont Teeth: High-crowned teeth that are well-suited for grinding abrasive plant material like grasses.
Hindgut Fermentation: The process where symbiotic microbes in the cecum break down plant fiber, providing energy to the animal.
Obligate Herbivore: An animal that must eat plants to survive; cannot digest meat.