Prolagus Temporal range: Early Miocene to Holocene |
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A Prolagus skeleton | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Lagomorpha |
Family: |
†Prolagidae Gureev, 1960 |
Genus: |
†Prolagus Pomel, 1853 |
Type species | |
Prolagus oeningensis König, 1825 |
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Species | |
See text |
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Prolagus sp. fossils distribution map. P. oeningensis is red, P. michauxi blue, P. crusafonti green, P. sorbinii pink, P. vasconiensis yellow, other Prolagus species including indet. are black.
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See text
Prolagidae is an extinct family within the order of lagomorphs, which also includes the Leporidae (rabbits and hares). One genus, Prolagus, is recognised within the family, which was previously considered a subfamily of Ochotonidae, as Prolaginae.
Prolagus first appeared in the Early Miocene in Europe, where it survived until historical times. In Africa and Asia, the genus is known from the Miocene and Pliocene. The scientific name may mean "before hares" or "primitive hares" (pro- meaning "before" and lagos meaning "hare").
The genus Prolagus consists of several prehistoric species. Only one, the Sardinian pika (P. sardus), survived to historical times.