The fossil of a pregnant horse has just been discovered by paleontologists in the Messel Pit, a former coal mine in Darstadt, Germany.
A fossil of a pregnant horse has just been discovered by paleontologists in the Messel Pit, a former coal mine in Darstadt, Germany. According to scientists, the fossil record is 47 million years old.
Since this discovery, scientists have gathered a lot of information about the ancient horse, scientifically known as Eurohippus messelensis, with 4 toes on each front leg and 3 toes on each hind leg. Despite the great differences in size and shape, the reproduction process of ancient horses was very similar to that of modern horses.
“Most of the bones of the equine foetus are still in their original position, only the skull is broken,” said Dr Jens Lorenz Franzen of the Senckenberg Institute, lead author of the study. X-ray analysis of the specimen showed that the ancient horse possessed an extensive ligament structure, connecting the uterus to the spine, helping to support the developing offspring in the female.
The size and fully developed teeth indicate that the fetus is fully developed from be able to be ????. The fossils are in very good condition, thanks to the oil shale at Grube Messel, known for its intricate fossil record.
The oil shale layer formed at the bottom of Lake Messel, protecting the remains of mammals, birds and other animals that once lived near the area of Darstadt, Germany, 47 million years ago.
