Hypolagus is an extinct genus of lagomorph, first recorded in the Hemingfordian (early to middle Miocene) of North America. It entered Asia during the early Turolian and spread to Europe not much later, where it survived until the Middle Pleistocene. Though unknown in the Iberian Peninsula, fossils of this genus have been found in the Balearic Islands, suggesting an eastern migration during the dry period in the Mediterranean region known as the Messinian Salinity Crisis.Quintana et al. (2010) "Presence of Hypolagus Dice, 1917 (Mammalia, Lagomorpha) in the Neogene of the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean): Description of Hypolagus balearicus nov. sp.". Geobios 43, 555-567
Hypolagus generally shows features intermediate between rabbits and hares. Hypolagus balearicus was the smallest species at and showed several peculiar features, such as short elbow-to-humerus ratio and robustness of the ulna.
Species Many species of Hypolagus have been described, including 12 from North America. Some of these species may be synonymous with others.
North American species Hypolagus arizonensis Hypolagus edensis - Late Pliocene Hypolagus fontinalis Hypolagus furlongi - Late Pliocene - Early Pleistocene Hypolagus gidleyi - Late Pliocene Hypolagus oregonensis Hypolagus parviplicatus Hypolagus regalis - Late Pliocene Hypolagus ringoldensis - Late Miocene to Early Pleistocene, Ringold Formation, Washington Hypolagus tedfordi- Late Pliocene Hypolagus vetus - Late MioceneWilliam W. Korth;Donald D. De Blieux. (2010). "Rodents and Lagomorphs (Mammalia) from the Hemphillian (Late Miocene) of Utah". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30 (1): 226–235. Hypolagus voorhiesi - Late Pliocene
Eurasian species Hypolagus balearicus - Early Pliocene, Mallorca and possibly Ibiza Hypolagus brachygnathus - Late Pliocene to Middle Pleistocene, Europe Hypolagus gromovi - Late Turolian to Early Ruscinian, Caucasus region Hypolagus mazegouensis - Late Pliocene, China Hypolagus multiplicatus - Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene, Baikal region Hypolagus peregrinus - Early Pleistocene, Sicily Hypolagus petenyii - Early Pliocene to Early Pleistocene, Europe Hypolagus schreuderae - Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene, China Hypolagus transbaicalicus - Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene, Baikal region
The genus and both species of Pliolagus (P. beremendensis and P. tothi) are junior synonyms of Hypolagus brachygnathus.
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