Horses have specialized adaptations that accommodate the wide open spaces and masses of grass that horses prefer to have around them. Although often associated with stables as living space and oats as food, horses prefer a very specific type of environment based on how they evolved. The ancestors of today's horses were once much smaller animals that lived in forests and then had to adapt to the change that occurred seven to 25 million years ago: forests transformed into grasslands. As a result, horses have become taller with longer legs and necks to survive and adapt to this new environment. The horses developed single hooves instead of toes so they could run faster in their new habitat. Because in the forest of their ancestors there wasn't much room to run. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Horses have become more adapted to open, grass-covered terrain so that they can spend almost 20 hours a day as nomadic grazers, as can be seen from the flat teeth that horses have and which are better suited to grinding the grass. Horses live in herds in the wild, with about a dozen horses in each group that includes a stallion, some mares and some young horses. Stallions without mares of their own will also form herds, called bachelor bands. Because horses defend themselves in the wild by running away from predators, they prefer to live in widely open areas. Even domesticated horses will avoid mostly enclosed spaces and choose shelters that have only a wall or roof. When feed is available, horses constantly eat to gain weight. This is good in the wild, where winter and drought can mean a lack of food sources during some parts of the year. As a result, horses are able to withstand weight gain and loss rapidly and, eventually, starvation. Allow their hooves to be a hard surface so that horses can walk on both hard and soft surfaces. They are sturdy and designed to allow the horse to move quickly and escape predators. Horses have poor eyesight and rely on their good hearing to spot predators before they can attack. If they sense the presence of a predator in the area, they may be alert and ready to escape. The horse's tails are used to maintain balance and to swat insects that might bite the horse. This unique adaptation helps them get rid of pests and ultimately prevent diseases that could be transmitted by insects. The baobab is the symbolic tree of the African Sahara (aside from the iconic sand dunes). It is immediately recognizable by its enormous trunk and its skinny stems and twigs. In a land where rainfall is limited and it is rare to find even small bushes, the gigantic baobab tree thrives. It is able to do this thanks to a series of unique adaptations that it has perfected throughout its evolution. In addition to its height and girth, the baobab is also distinguished by its shiny, smooth outer bark. This unique adaptation allows the baobab tree to reflect light and heat, keeping it cool under the intense savannah sun. The slippery skin is also useful in preventing monkeys, elephants and other small herbivores from climbing it and eating its tender leaves and flowers. It is also believed that the reflective nature of the bark can help protect the tree from the effects of fires. The baobab tree also has spongy bark that allows it to store water. Baobab bark is more porous than regular wood, making it.