Prolagus
Fossil of Prolagus oeningensis
- Asia
- Europe
- Africa
Prolagus is an extinct genus of mammal with the pikas ( Ochotonidae ) related Prolagidae among lagomorphs ( Lagomorpha ).
Age and Locations
The species of the genus Prolagus occurred with the beginning of the Early Miocene the first time in Europe.
System
Prolagus is the only genus of the family Prolagidae among lagomorphs. Some authors consider them as subfamily of pikas ( Ochotonidae ).
Species
The genus Prolagus consists of numerous fossil species. Only the Sardinian pika ( Prolagus sardus ) lived a few centuries ago in Sardinia and Corsica. The last sighting of this species comes from the year 1774 (Smith 2008). It is believed that it became extinct due to habitat destruction and the introduction of alien species ( invasive species ) on the islands.
Described species of the genus are:
- Prolagus aeningensis
- Prolagus aguilari
- Prolagus apricenicus
- Prolagus crusafonti
- Prolagus fortis
- Prolagus imperialis
- Prolagus italicus
- Prolagus major
- Prolagus michauxi
- Prolagus oeningensis
- Prolagus osmolskae
- Prolagus praevasconiensis
- Sardinian pika ( Prolagus sardus )
- Prolagus schnaitheimensis
- Prolagus sorbinii
- Prolagus tobieni
- Prolagus vasconiensis