''Prolagus imperialis'' was an extinct

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

in the genus ''

Prolagus ''Prolagus'' is an extinct genus of pika within the order Lagomorpha. Over 20 species of ''Prolagus'' have been named, beginning in the Early Miocene in Europe 20 million years ago, where it ranged widely for most of the epoch; by the end of the ...

''. It was one of the species in this genus that were recently discovered. ''Prolagus imperialis'' may have resembled a

pika A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...

Nomenclature

''Prolagus imperialis'' was named after

Poggio Imperiale Poggio Imperiale is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Foggia in the Apulia region of southeast Italy. Twin towns * Vorë, Albania Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e ...

, the place where its fossils were discovered.Evolution of Island Mammals: Adaptation and Extinction of Placental Mammals on Islands 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 ''Prolagus'' is an extinct genus of pika within the order Lagomorpha. Over 20 species of ''Prolagus'' have been named, beginning in the Early Miocene in Europe 20 million years ago, where it ranged widely for most of the epoch; by the end of the ...

, weighing about 5 kilograms.

References

Pikas Prehistoric mammals {{lagomorph-stub