Horse 

Scientific Name: Equus ferus caballus

Family: Equidae

Order: Perissodactyla

Physical Description

Size: Adult horses vary widely in size depending on the breed. They can stand anywhere from 142 cm (14 hands, where one hand equals about 4 inches) to over 183 cm (18 hands) at the shoulder.

Weight: They can weigh from about 380 kilograms (840 pounds) for smaller breeds to over 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) for the larger drafts.

Appearance: Horses have a broad chest, a long, muscular neck, and long, powerful limbs. They have a mane of long hair running down the neck and a tail used for swatting flies and other insects.

Habitat and Distribution

Habitat: Originally adapted to a wide range of habitats including grasslands and plains, modern horses are found in almost every habitable continent, mostly in domesticated or feral states.

Distribution: While horses were once found wild across many parts of Europe and Asia, the only truly wild horses remaining today are the Przewalski's horse in Mongolia. All other so-called "wild" horses, such as the mustangs of North America or the brumbies of Australia, are actually feral descendants of domesticated animals.

Behavior

Diet: Horses are herbivores with a diet consisting mainly of grass and other vegetation. They require a high-fiber diet and are known for their grazing habits.

Social Structure: Horses are social animals that naturally live in groups called herds, led typically by a dominant mare, with a stallion for protection and breeding.

Reproduction: Horses reach sexual maturity at about two years old, but often aren't bred until they are physically mature around four to five years old. After a gestation period of approximately 11 months, a mare typically gives birth to a single foal.

Conservation Status

Threats: Domesticated horses are not considered at risk for extinction, but certain breeds are at risk due to changing agricultural practices and loss of genetic diversity. Wild populations, like the Przewalski's horse, have faced critical endangerment, primarily due to habitat loss and competition with livestock.

Conservation: Conservation efforts for horses vary significantly between breeds and regions, focusing primarily on maintaining genetic diversity and sustainable management practices for domestic breeds and protecting habitat for wild populations.

Interesting Facts

Horses have a nearly 360-degree field of vision due to the placement of their eyes on the sides of their head.

They communicate with each other through vocal sounds like whinnying and neighing, and also through physical gestures like ear positioning and tail swishing.

The hoof of a horse is made up of the same protein that composes human hair and fingernails, known as keratin.