Horses, the Fossil Record, and Evolution

Abstract

When asked to provide evidence of long-term evolution, most scientists turn to the fossil record. Within this context, fossil horses (family Equidae) are among the most frequently cited examples of evolution. The prominent Finnish paleontologist Björn Kurtén wrote (1953, p. 113): “One’s mind inevitably turns to that inexhaustible textbook example, the horse sequence. This has been cited—incorrectly more often than not—as evidence for practically every evolutionary principle that has ever been coined.” This cautionary note notwithstanding, fossil horses do indeed provide compelling evidence in support of evolutionary theory.