Press Release
Fla. Museum researcher featured in new horse exhibit at American Museum of Natural History
June 12, 2008
Media contact:
Caroline Glagola
Communications Specialist
Florida Museum of Natural History
(352) 273-2028, cglagola@flmnh.ufl.edu
Writer: Kelly Donovan
PHOTOS AVAILABLE
GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- Etiquette experts advise to "never look a gift horse in the mouth," but that's exactly what Florida Museum of Natural History researcher Bruce MacFadden does in his work on ancient horses and their diet. MacFadden's research on fossilized horse teeth is featured in a new exhibition in New York's American Museum of Natural History, which opened in May to wide acclaim from visitors and the media.
Ross MacPhee, scientific curator of "The Horse," calls MacFadden's contribution to the exhibit "indispensable."
"He ensured that the section on horse evolution was up-to-date and cutting-edge," said MacPhee. "MacFadden is one of the world's leading experts on horse evolution, and had made detailed studies of the AMNH's collections, so he was a natural for us in every way."
"The Horse" examines 50 million years of the evolution and domestication of some of humankind's most dedicated and loved companions. MacFadden, Florida Museum curator of vertebrate paleontology, was the scientific advisor on ancient horses of North America for the exhibition. A video there features MacFadden explaining his research on fossilized horse teeth.
"The first horses all had short, broad chewing teeth because they fed on leaves and other soft vegetation," MacFadden said. "Later horses had teeth three times longer because horses began feeding on tougher grasses that wore their teeth down faster as they moved into open prairie and grasslands."
Prairie grasses contain traces of the mineral silica, an ingredient in glass, as well as bits of coarse soil that grind down teeth. MacFadden's analysis of fossilized horse teeth from different periods shows horses evolved longer, tougher teeth in response to their harsher diet. Further analysis also shows some long-toothed horses continued to feed on leaves and soft grass.
"Through chemicals and tiny scratches preserved in fossil teeth, we've been able to conclude that ancient horses fed on a variety of grasses, which probably helped them survive in several different climates," MacFadden said.
Horses roamed free across the grasslands and steppes of North America, Eastern Europe and central Asia before humans began domesticating them more than 6,000 years ago. Over time, more than 200 breeds of horses have helped societies fight battles, plow farms and transport people and goods.
"The Horse" exhibition is on display in New York through Jan. 4, 2009.
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The Florida Museum of Natural History is Florida's state natural history museum, dedicated to understanding, preserving and interpreting biological diversity and cultural heritage. It is located near the intersection of Southwest 34th Street and Hull Road in the University of Florida Cultural Plaza in Gainesville. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, including directions and parking, call (352) 846-2000, or visit www.flmnh.ufl.edu.