Prolagus imperialis
Appearance
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (December 2014) |
Prolagus imperialis Temporal range: Early Pliocene
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Lagomorpha |
Family: | †Prolagidae |
Genus: | †Prolagus |
Species: | †P. imperialis
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Binomial name | |
†Prolagus imperialis Mazza, 1987
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Prolagus imperialis is an extinct species in the genus Prolagus. It was one of the species in this genus that were recently discovered. Prolagus imperialis may have resembled a pika.
Nomenclature
[edit]Prolagus imperialis was named after Poggio Imperiale, the place where its fossils were discovered.[1] Its name might mean "first rabbit of Poggio Imperiale".
Size
[edit]Prolagus imperialis is larger than the species which was discovered along with it, Prolagus apricenicus. Also, Prolagus imperialis is the largest of all Prolagidae, weighing about 5 kilograms.
References
[edit]- ^ Evolution of Island Mammals: Adaptation and Extinction of Placental Mammals on Islands