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Broad-leafed Herbs Such: Equids are gregarious, usually traveling in herds of about 10 to 100 members. The herds move over the grasslands in search of forbs (broad-leafed herbs such as clover), grass, and water. The herds contain a number or females, which are fought for by the males. The females are seasonally polyestrus, experiencing repeated sexual cycles during certain parts of the year. Usually a single young is born after a gestation period averaging 11 to 12 months.
In the Oligocene epoch, about 30 million years ago, horses had become somewhat larger, and though their feet were still padded, there were only three toes on each foot. The premolar teeth were more complicated and had begun to resemble molars. These horses, however, were undoubtedly still browsers, depending largely on broad-leafed plants for food. The Oligocene horses, such as Mesohippus and Miohippus, were all rather similar. They were common among the fauna of North America, but are not found elsewhere.
This type of forest is represented in southern ind central California by chaparral, evergreen shrubs such as manzanita and chamise, and by ;he oak woodland of scattered live-oak trees with broad, spreading crowns, mixed with grasses and Dther herbs.
Along and near the Mediterranean Sea, the broad sclerophyll woodland is found mainly in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, western Turkey, ind a strip along the northern border of Africa. Characteristic trees are evergreen oaks such as rjork oak (Quercus suber), the thick bark of which is the cork of commerce, laurel (Laurus nobilis), olive (Olea europaea), and subtropical pines. The scrubby or bushy woodland is called maquis or macchia. |
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