Propalaeotherium

The Propalaeotherium (Propalaeotherium parvulum) is a small mammal that lived in the Eocene period along with the Gastornis, Ambulocetus, Leptictidium, and more. They were ancestors of horses. They were very small, compared to horses. They were only around 40 cm tall.

Propalaeotherium were herbivores; they ate fruits and leaves. They lived 49 million years ago. Big creatures like the Gastornis and the Ambulocetus preyed on them. Even though they were related to modern horses, they had claws instead of hooves. They belong to the Order perissodactyla. Propalaeotherium could be called "tiny horses".