New fossils found in India shed light on hoofed animals origins

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New research published today in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology describes a fossil family that illuminates the origin of perissodactyls—the group of mammals that includes horses, rhinos and tapirs. It provides insights on the controversial question of where these hoofed animals evolved, concluding that they arose in or near present day India.

With more than 350 new fossils, the 15-year study pieces together a nearly complete picture of the skeletal anatomy of the Cambaytherium—an extinct cousin of perissodactyls that lived on the Indian subcontinent almost 55 million years ago.

Cambaytherium, first described in 2005, is the most primitive member of an extinct group that branched off just before the evolution of perissodactyls, providing scientists with unique clues to the ancient origins and evolution of the group. Cambaytherium represents an evolutionary stage more primitive than any known perissodactyl, supporting origin for the group in or near India –before they dispersed to other continents when the land connection with Asia formed.

Researchers said the animal likely evolved at a time India was still an island. The results also confirm a theory first proposed 30 years ago that the origin of horses can be traced to India during its northward drift from Madagascar.

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[Sumeet 456]

Wow very interesting. 

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Maybe that is how goats used to looked like