Prolagus

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Prolagus
Temporal range: Burdigalian–Holocene
Prolagus skeleton SI.jpg
A Prolagus sardus skeleton
Prolagus3.jpg
Reconstruction of Prolagus sardus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Lagomorpha
Family:† Prolagidae
Genus:† Prolagus
Pomel, 1853
Type species
† Prolagus oeningensis
König, 1825
Species

See text

Pika Prolagus sp. fossil distribution map.png
Prolagus sp. fossils distribution map. P. oeningensis is red, P. michauxiblue, P. crusafontigreen, P. sorbiniipink, P. vasconiensisyellow, other Prolagus species including indet. are black. [1] [n 1]

Prolagus is an extinct genus of lagomorph. Over 20 species have been named, and the genus was abundant and widespread in Europe during the Neogene. However, by the end of the Middle Pleistocene, it was confined to a single species, the Sardinian pika (P. sardus), on the Corsica, Sardinia, and surrounding islands, where it survived into historical times. [3] In North Africa and Western Asia, the genus is known from the Miocene and Pliocene. [4] The scientific name may mean "before hares" or "primitive hares" (pro- meaning "before" and lagos meaning "hare"). Its taxonomy is disputed, with it either being considered a member of the family Ochotonidae, which includes living pikas, or the only member of the family Prolagidae.

Contents

Taxonomy

Prolagus was first named by Auguste Pomel in 1853. Prolagus has been considered by most taxonomists to be a member of the pika family Ochotonidae, but distinct from living pikas, which all belong to the genus Ochotona. [5] Erbaleva in 1988 suggested it represented the only member of the monotypic family Prolagidae due to its distinct dental formula; [6] this proposal was considered invalid by Nieves López Martínez, due to the fact that many mammal families have lineages with distinct dental formulae. [5] However, many authorities such as the IUCN Red List and American Society of Mammalogists accept Prolagidae as valid. [7] [8] Analysis of a partial mitochondrial genome of Prolagus sardus suggests that it is more closely related to Ochotona than to Leporidae (which contains rabbits and hares), with an estimated divergence between Prolagus and Ochotona about 30 million years ago. [9]

Glires

Rodentia

Lagomorpha

Leporidae (rabbits and hares)

† Prolagus sardus (Sardinian pika)

Ochotona (living pikas)

Description

Prolagus is distinguished by a continuously growing dentition, a lack of a lower third molar, a trilobed second lower molar and unusually shaped premolars, with additional cusps in the lower third premolar. In comparison to modern pikas of the genus Ochotona, they have one less dorsal vertebra in the spinal column. Most species of Prolagus probably weighed around 500 grams (1.1 lb), similar to a living pika. [5] A specimen with preserved soft-tissue is known from late Miocene aged deposits from Andance in France, which shows that its overall proportions, shape of the ears and lack of tail are similar to living Ochotona. [5]

Species

Over 20 species of Prolagus have been named. [5] [10] [11]

SpeciesAuthor and yearTemporal rangeLocationNotes & description
P. oeningensis König, 1825late-Middle MioceneGermany
P. sardus Wagner, 1829Middle Pleistocene-HoloceneSardinia, Corsica, and surrounding islands
P. calpensisF. Major, 1905PlioceneGibraltar
P. vasconiensisViret, 1930Early MioceneFrance
P. bilobusHeller, 1936PlioceneGermany
P. osmolskae [12] Fostowicz-Frelik, 2010PliocenePolandHas been considered a junior synonym of P. bilobus [13]
P. crusafonti Lopez-Martinez, 1975Late MioceneSpain
P. michauxiLopez-Martinez, 1975PlioceneFrance
P. ibericusLopez-Martinez, 1975PlioceneSpain
P. figaroLopez-Martinez, 1975PlioceneSardinia and Corsica
P. deperetiLopez-Martinez, 1975PlioceneFranceOriginally described as a subspecies of P. figaro
P. schnaitheimensisTobien, 1975early-Middle MioceneGermany
P. tobieniLopez-Martinez, 1977late-Middle MioceneSpain
P. majorLopez-Martinez, 1977late-Middle MioceneSpain
P. praevasconiensisRingeade, 1978Early MioceneFrance
P. apricenicusMazza, 1987Late MioceneItalyPart of endemic Gargano island fauna
P. imperialis
P. sorbiniMassini, 1989Latest MioceneItaly
P. aguilariLopez-Martinez, 1997early Middle MioceneFrance
P. fortisLopez-Martinez et Sese, 1990Early MioceneSpain
P. caucasicusAverianov et Tesakov, 1998PlioceneRussia
P. pannonicus [14] Angelone & Čermák, 2015Late MioceneHungary
P. latiuncinatus [14]
P. italicus [15] Angelone, 2008PlioceneItaly
P. migrans [16] Sen & Geraads, 2023Pliocene-PleistoceneMorocco

Evolutionary history and ecology

Prolagus likely evolved from the Oligocene-earliest Miocene genus Piezodus. The distribution of Prolagus between 20-8 million years ago extends from the Iberian Peninsula in the west to Anatolia in the east, extending as far north as central Germany, though it was absent from the Italian Peninsula. Early Prolagus species are thought to have inhabited subtropical swamp and wetland environments, with a similar ecology to the living marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris). In many European Miocene localities remains of Prolagus are extraordinarily abundant, and Prolagus species probably played a key role as prey for many predators. During the late Miocene, Prolagus dispersed into North Africa due to the connection between Africa and Europe as a result of the Messinian salinity crisis. The range of Prolagus shifted southwards and substantially contracted outside of North Africa during the Pliocene, due to climatic cooling and increasing aridity, though the genus reached its highest species richness at 9 species due to habitat fragmentation leading to speciation. [5] Prolagus first arrived in Corsica, Sardinia, and other Mediterranean islands at the early-late Pliocene boundary, likely due to an emergent land connection. The earliest remains of Prolagus on the islands are represented by the species P. figaro, ancestral to P. sardus. [17] Among the last continental species of Prolagus is P. calpensis from the Early-Middle Pleistocene of the Iberian Peninsula. By the beginning of the Late Pleistocene, Prolagus was confined to the single species P. sardus on Corsica, Sardinia and surrounding islands. While decline of the distribution Prolagus on the mainland of the continents was primarily driven by climatic change, the cause of the final extinction of the mainland Prolagus species is unclear, but one factor suggested is increased predation pressure. [5] The Sardinian pika probably became extinct sometime between 800 BC (the timing of the last reliable radiocarbon date) and the 6th century AD, likely due to introductions of invasive species by humans. [18]

Notes

  1. ↑ The coordinates of few additional fossils not listed in the xls file attached to Ge and all paper [1] were taken from the Paleobiology Database. [2] [pdb 1] [pdb 2] [pdb 3] [pdb 4] [pdb 5] [pdb 6] [pdb 7] [pdb 8] [pdb 9] [pdb 10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lagomorpha</span> Order of mammals

The lagomorphs are the members of the taxonomic order Lagomorpha, of which there are two living families: the Leporidae and the Ochotonidae (pikas). There are 110 recent species of lagomorph of which 109 are extant, including ten genera of rabbits, one genus of hare and one genus of pika. The name of the order is derived from the Ancient Greek lagos + morphē.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pika</span> Genus of mountain-dwelling mammal

A pika is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal native to Asia and North America. With short limbs, a very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but with short, rounded ears. The large-eared pika of the Himalayas and nearby mountains lives at elevations of more than 6,000 m (20,000 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sardinian pika</span> Extinct species of mammal

The Sardinian pika is an extinct species of lagomorph that was endemic to the islands of Sardinia, Corsica and neighbouring Mediterranean islands until its extinction likely in Roman times. It was the last surviving member of Prolagus, a genus of lagomorph with a fossil record spanning 20 million years once widespread throughout Europe during the Miocene and Pliocene epochs. Its closest living relatives are modern pikas, from which it is estimated to have diverged around 30 million years ago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sardinian dhole</span> Extinct species of carnivore

The Sardinian dhole is an extinct insular canid which was endemic to what is now the Mediterranean islands of Sardinia and Corsica during the Middle-Late Pleistocene. It went extinct at the end of the Pleistocene around the time of human settlement of the islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daurian pika</span> Species of mammal

The Daurian pika is a small relative of rabbits and hares in the order Lagomorpha. It is well known for its “barking” alarm call, and for its peculiar habit of making hay to help survive the winter. There are 4 recognized subspecies, Ochotona dauurica annectens, O.d. bedfordi, O.d. dauurica, and O.d. mursavi. Daurian pikas, like other lagomorphs, are characterized by a secondary set of incisor teeth. They are sexually monomorphic, with thick reddish coats. Pikas have no external tail, and their ears are large and rounded. The auditory bullae, a feature of the skull of daurian pikas are small in comparison to many other pikas. This is thought to be related to their fairly low altitude habitat preference. They are considered keystone species within their habitat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaoligong pika</span> Species of mammal

The Gaoligong pika is a species of mammal in the family Ochotonidae. It is endemic to China. Many of the general physical characteristics of the pika species are shared by Gaoligong pikas. However, the Gaoligong pika is specifically characterized by unique physical characteristics, including a red-brown colored crown around the neck and black behind the ears. They can produce one litter per year and can live up to three years. Their behavior is currently undetermined due to limited information available about the species. This is due to the inaccessibility of their habitat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoffmann's pika</span> Species of mammal

Hoffmann's pika is a species of mammal in the pika family, Ochotonidae, that is endemic to Mongolia. It is currently listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steppe pika</span> Species of mammal

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Prolagus oeningensis is an extinct lagomorph and the type species of its genus, Prolagus. It lived from 15.97 to 7.75 Ma, existing for about 8 million years.

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<i>Talpa tyrrhenica</i> Extinct species of mammal

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References

  1. 1 2 Ge, Deyan; Wen, Zhixin; Xia, Lin; Zhang, Zhaoqun; Erbajeva, Margarita; Huang, Chengming; Yang, Qisen (April 3, 2013). "Evolutionary History of Lagomorphs in Response to Global Environmental Change". PLOS ONE. 8 (4:e59668): e59668. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...859668G. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059668 . PMC   3616043 . PMID   23573205.
  2. ↑ "The Paleobiology Database. †Prolagus Pomel 1853 (pika)" . Retrieved 2015-03-05.
  3. ↑ Hoffman, R.S.; Smith, A.T. (2005). "Order Lagomorpha". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 193–194. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
  4. ↑ McKenna, M.C.; Bell, S.K. (1997). Classification of Mammals: Above the Species Level. Columbia University Press. p. 109. ISBN   0-231-11013-8.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 N. López-Martínez Paleobiogeographical history of Prolagus, a European ochotonid (Lagomorpha) Lynx, 32 (2001), pp. 215-231
  6. ↑ ERBAEVA M. A., 1988: Late Cenozaic pikas: taxonomy, systematics, phylogeny. Nauka, Moskva, 224 pp (in Russian).
  7. ↑ Smith, A.T. & Lanier, H.C. 2019. Prolagus sardus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T18338A1737167. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T18338A1737167.en. Downloaded on 12 April 2021.
  8. ↑ "ASM Mammal Diversity Database". www.mammaldiversity.org. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  9. ↑ Utzeri, Valerio Joe; Cilli, Elisabetta; Fontani, Francesco; Zoboli, Daniel; Orsini, Massimiliano; Ribani, Anisa; Latorre, Adriana; Lissovsky, Andrey A.; Pillola, Gian Luigi; Bovo, Samuele; Gruppioni, Giorgio; Luiselli, Donata; Fontanesi, Luca (2023-08-21). "Ancient DNA re-opens the question of the phylogenetic position of the Sardinian pika Prolagus sardus (Wagner, 1829), an extinct lagomorph". Scientific Reports. 13 (1): 13635. Bibcode:2023NatSR..1313635U. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-40746-w. ISSN   2045-2322. PMC   10442435 . PMID   37604894.
  10. ↑ Angelone, C. (2004). "Messinian Prolagus (Lagomorpha, Mammalia) of Italy". Messinian Online. Archived from the original on 2012-12-09. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  11. ↑ Nowak, Ronald M. (1999). Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th edition, volume II. Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1936.
  12. ↑ Fostowicz-Frelik, Ł (2010). "A new species of Pliocene Prolagus (Lagomorpha, Ochotonidae) from Poland is the northernmost record of the genus". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 30 (2): 609–612. Bibcode:2010JVPal..30..609F. doi:10.1080/02724631003621789. S2CID   84550663.
  13. ↑ Čermák, S.; Angelone, C. (2013). "Revision of the type material of the Pliocene species Prolagus bilobus Heller, 1936 (Mammalia, Lagomorpha), with comments on the taxonomic validity of P. osmolskae Fostowicz-Frelik, 2010". Bulletin of Geosciences. 88 (1): 45–50. doi: 10.3140/bull.geosci.1369 .
  14. 1 2 Angelone, Chiara; Čermák, Stanislav (December 2015). "Two new species of Prolagus (Lagomorpha, Mammalia) from the Late Miocene of Hungary: taxonomy, biochronology, and palaeobiogeography". Paläontologische Zeitschrift. 89 (4): 1023–1038. Bibcode:2015PalZ...89.1023A. doi:10.1007/s12542-014-0247-z. ISSN   0031-0220. S2CID   84114380.
  15. ↑ Angelone, Chiara (July 2008). "Prolagus italicus n. sp. (Ochotonidae, Lagomorpha), a new Pliocene species of peninsular Italy". Geobios. 41 (4): 445–453. Bibcode:2008Geobi..41..445A. doi:10.1016/j.geobios.2007.12.001.
  16. ↑ Sen, Sevket; Geraads, Denis (2023-02-03). "Lagomorpha (Mammalia) from the Pliocene-Pleistocene locality of Ahl al Oughlam, Morocco". Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments. 103 (3): 633–661. Bibcode:2023PdPe..103..633S. doi:10.1007/s12549-022-00569-5. ISSN   1867-1594. S2CID   256583662.
  17. ↑ Angelone, Chiara; Čermák, Stanislav; Kotsakis, Tassos (2015-07-01). "The most ancient lagomorphs of Sardinia: An overview". Geobios. 48 (4): 287–296. Bibcode:2015Geobi..48..287A. doi:10.1016/j.geobios.2015.06.002. ISSN   0016-6995.
  18. ↑ Valenzuela, Alejandro; Torres-Roig, Enric; Zoboli, Daniel; Pillola, Gian Luigi; Alcover, Josep Antoni (2021-11-29). "Asynchronous ecological upheavals on the Western Mediterranean islands: New insights on the extinction of their autochthonous small mammals". The Holocene. 32 (3): 137–146. doi:10.1177/09596836211060491. ISSN   0959-6836. S2CID   244763779.

Additional references of the Paleobiology Database

  1. ↑ Ginsburg, L. (1969). "Le plus ancien morse du Monde". Bulletin du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (in French). 41 (4): 995–998.
    Paleobiology Database: Pontigne 2 (Miocene of France) (les Buissonneaux)
  2. ↑ Antunes, M. T.; Mein, P. (1981). "Vertébrés du miocène moyen de amor (Leiria) - importance stratigraphique". Ciências da Terra (in French). 6: 169–188.
    Paleobiology Database: Amor, point 1 ("premiere gisement" of Zbyszewski)", Amor, points 2 to 5 (Miocene of Portugal)
  3. ↑ Buffetaut, E.; Crouzel, F.; Juillard, F.; Stigliani, F. (1984). "Le crocodilien longirostre Gavialosuchus dans le Miocene moyen de Polastron (Gers, France)". Geobios. 17 (1): 113–117. Bibcode:1984Geobi..17..113B. doi:10.1016/s0016-6995(84)80009-1.
    Paleobiology Database: Polastron (Miocene of France)
  4. ↑ Hoyos, M.; Garcia del Cura, M. A.; Ordonyez Martinez, S. (1981). "Caracteristicas geologicas de yacimiento de los Valles de Fuentiduenya (Segovia)". Estudios Geológicos (in Spanish). 37: 345–351.
    Paleobiology Database: Nivel X-Fisura, Nivel X, Nivel Y, Los Valles de Fuentiduenya (Segovia) (Miocene of Spain)
  5. ↑ Sese Benito, C.; Lopez Martinez, N. (1981). "Los micromammiferos (insectivora, rodentia y lagomorpha) de Vallesiense inferior de Los Valles de Fuentidueña (Segovia, España)". Estudios Geológicos (in Spanish). 37: 369–381.
    Paleobiology Database: Nivel X-Fisura, Nivel X, Nivel Y, Los Valles de Fuentiduenya (Segovia) (Miocene of Spain)
  6. ↑ Heissig, K. (1989). "Neue Ergebnisse zur Stratigraphie der mittleren Serie der Oberen Süßwassermolasse Bayerns (New results on the stratigraphy of the middle series of upper Freshwater Molasse, Bavaria)". Geologica Bavarica (in German). 94: 239–257.
    Paleobiology Database: Ziemetshausen 1b, 1a (Miocene of Germany)
  7. ↑ L. Abbazzi; C. Angelone; M. Arca; G. Barisone; C. Bedetti; M. Delfino; T. Kotsakis; F. Marcolini; M. R. Palombo; M. Pavia; P. Piras; L. Rook; D. Torre; C. Tuveri; A. M. F. Valli; B. Wilkens (2004). "Plio-Pleistocene fossil vertebrates of Monte Tuttavista (Orosei, Eastern Sardinia, Italy), an overview". Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia (in Italian). 110 (3): 681–706.
    Paleobiology Database: Fissure 7, Blocco Strada Quarry (VII bl. St.),Fissure 7, Mustelide Quarry (VII Mustelide), Fissure 6, Quarry 3 (VI 3), Fissure 10, Ghiro Quarry (X Ghiro) (Pliocene of Italy), Fissure 11, Antilope Quarry, (XI antilope), Fissure 6, Banco 6 Quarry, (VI Banco 6), Fissure 7, Quarry 2, (VII 2),Fissure 10, 3 Uccelli Quarry, (X 3 uccelli), Fissure 11, canide Quarry, (XI canide),Fissure 9, Prolagus Quarry, (IX Prolagus), Fissure 11, dic.2001, (XI dic.2001), Fissure 11, Quarry 3, (XI 3), Fissure 11, Rondone Quarry, (XI rondone), Fissure 4, Quarry 5 Prolagus, (IV 5 prol.), Fissure 4, Quarry 20, (IV 20) (Pleistocene of Italy)
  8. ↑ Ginsburg, L.; Bonneau, M. (1995). "La succession des faunes de mammiferes miocenes de Pontigne (Maine-et-Loire, France)". Bulletin du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (in French). 4 (2–4): 313–328.
    Paleobiology Database: [https://paleobiodb.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=basicCollectionSearch&collection_no=148396 Pontigne 4 (marine) (Miocene of France) (les Buissoneaux)
  9. ↑ Böttcher, R.; Heizmann, E. P. J.; Rasser, M. W; Ziegler, R. (2009). "Biostratigraphy and palaeoecology of a Middle Miocene (Karpathian, MN 5) fauna from the northern margin of the North Alpine Foreland Basin (Oggenhausen 2, SW' Germany)". Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen. 254 (1/2): 237–260. doi:10.1127/0077-7749/2009/0011.
    Paleobiology Database: Oggenhausen 2 (Miocene of Germany)
  10. ↑ Additional contributors to utilized records of Paleobiology Database (authorizers supplying these records) include Johannes Mueller, Philip Mannion, Mark Uhen, John Alroy, Alan Turner.
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