Prolagus imperialis

Prolagus imperialis Temporal range: Early Pliocene
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Lagomorpha
Family:	†Prolagidae
Genus:	†Prolagus
Species:	†P. imperialis
Binomial name
†Prolagus imperialis Mazza, 1987

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

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

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

1. Evolution of Island Mammals: Adaptation and Extinction of Placental Mammals on Islands