Evolution of Prolagus sardus (Ochotonidae, Lagomorpha) in the Quaternary of Sardinia Island (Italy)

An analysis of Prolagus sardus (?late Middle Pleistocene-Holocene) fossil material from five sites of Monte Tuttavista karst fossiliferous complex (?late Pliocene–Quaternary, North-Eastern Sardinia, Italy) is performed here. The opportunity to study abundant material of primitive to advanced P. sardus populations allowed recognition of morphological differences in P. sardus populations for the first time. Moreover, an asymptotic size increase of P. sardus dentition has been evidenced, isometric with the corresponding postcranial skeleton (only available for three fossil sites). An anagenetic evolutionary pattern has been proposed for this species. Several morphological characters of P. sardus dental occlusal surface show a clinal variation that allowed arrangement of the analyzed fossil sites in relative chronological order. These biochronological results may help in age determination of other more problematic Sardinian (and possibly Corsican) Quaternary fossil assemblages.