#oligocene

Another New Year means another obligatory piece of holiday art. :) Since 2026 is the Year of the Horse, I decided to choose one of the many extinct horse species. This is Mesohippus bairdi, which lived during the Early Oligocene in North America. Unlike earlier horses, Mesohippus had three-toed feet with hooves, with the middle hoof larger than the side hooves. During the Oligocene, climate change reduced the area of ​​rainforests, forcing ancient horses to adapt to life in open spaces. Reducing the number of toes is one such adaptation. However, Mesohippus were much smaller than modern horses, and their low-crowned teeth were better suited to eating soft foods like fruit rather than tough grass.

Last year, I continued to develop my digital skills. I hope this year will be just as fruitful, if not more so. Happy New Year!