Hypolagus
Hypolagus is an extinct genus of lagomorph, first recorded in the Hemingfordian 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.
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 Miocene
- Hypolagus voorhiesi - Late Pliocene