PBDB Taxon

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Morphology	Ecology and taphonomy	External Literature Search	Age range and collections

Leporidae (rabbit)

Mammalia - Lagomorpha - Leporidae

Taxonomy

Leporidae was named by Fischer de Waldheim (1817) [Originally Leporinorum]. It is extant. Its type is Lepus.

It was assigned to Rosores by Gray (1821); to Glires by Gray (1825) and Bonaparte (1850); to Duplicidentata by Flower (1883); to Duplicidentata by Cope (1889); to Lagomorpha by Gadow (1898); to Lagomorpha by Hay (1902); to Duplicidentata by Flower and Lydekker (1891) and Lambe (1908); to Duplicidentati by Jaekel (1911); and to Lagomorpha by Dawson (1958), Johnson (1966), Kurten and Anderson (1980), Carroll (1988), Shoshani et al. (1989), Nowak (1991), Bendukidze et al. (2009), Angelone et al. (2018), Lofgren et al. (2020) and Korth et al. (2022).

Synonyms

Leporinorum was named by Fischer de Waldheim (1817).

It was replaced with Leporidae by Gray (1821).

Synonymy list

Year	Name and author
1817	Leporidae Fischer de Waldheim p. 409
1817	Leporinorum Fischer de Waldheim p. 409
1821	Leporidae Gray p. 304
1825	Leporidae Gray p. 341
1850	Leporidae Bonaparte p. 1
1883	Leporidae Flower p. 185
1889	Leporidae Cope p. 876
1891	Leporidae Flower and Lydekker p. 91
1898	Leporidae Gadow p. 43
1902	Leporidae Hay p. 735
1908	Leporidae Lambe
1911	Leporidae Jaekel p. 221
1958	Leporidae Dawson p. 9
1966	Leporidae Johnson p. 80
1980	Leporidae Kurten and Anderson p. 276
1988	Leporidae Carroll
1989	Leporidae Shoshani et al. p. 436
1991	Leporidae Nowak
2009	Leporidae Bendukidze et al. p. 347
2018	Leporidae Angelone et al. p. 508
2020	Leporidae Lofgren et al.
2022	Leporidae Korth et al.

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Rank	Name	Author
kingdom	Animalia	()
—	Bilateria
—	Eubilateria	Ax 1987
—	Deuterostomia
phylum	Chordata	Haeckel 1874
subphylum	Vertebrata
superclass	Gnathostomata
—	Osteichthyes	()
subclass	Sarcopterygii	()
subclass	Dipnotetrapodomorpha	(Nelson 2006)
subclass	Tetrapodomorpha	()
—	Tetrapoda
—	Reptiliomorpha
—	Anthracosauria
subclass	Amphibiosauria	Kuhn 1967
—	Cotylosauria	()
—	Amniota
subclass	Synapsida
—	Therapsida	()

Rank	Name	Author
infraorder	Cynodontia	()
—	Mammaliamorpha
—	Mammaliaformes
class	Mammalia
—	Cladotheria
—	Zatheria
subclass	Tribosphenida	()
subclass	Theria
—	Eutheria	()
—	Placentalia
—	Boreoeutheria
—	Euarchontoglires	Murphy et al. 2001
—	Gliriformes	Wyss and Meng 1996
—	Glires	()
—	Duplicidentata	()
order	Lagomorpha	Brandt 1885
family	Leporidae
family	Leporidae

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Fm. Leporidae Fischer de Waldheim 1817 [rabbit]

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G. †Aluralagus Downey 1968

†Aluralagus bensonensis Gazin 1942

†Aluralagus virginiae Downey 1970

Subfm. †Archaeolaginae

G. †Archaeolagus Dice 1917

†Archaeolagus acaricolus Dawson 1958

†Archaeolagus buangulus Stevens et al. 1969

†Archaeolagus emeraldensis Barnosky 1986

†Archaeolagus macrocephalus Matthew 1907

†Archaeolagus primigenius Matthew 1907

G. †Hypolagus Dice 1917

†Hypolagus arizonensis Downey 1962

†Hypolagus edensis Frick 1921

Invalid names: Hypolagus limnetus Gazin 1934 [synonym]

†Hypolagus fontinalis Dawson 1958

†Hypolagus furlongi Gazin 1934

†Hypolagus gidleyi White 1988

†Hypolagus oregonensis Shotwell 1956

†Hypolagus parviplicatus Dawson 1958

†Hypolagus regalis Hibbard 1939

†Hypolagus ringoldensis Gustafson 1978

†Hypolagus tedfordi White 1988

†Hypolagus vetus Kellogg 1910

†Hypolagus voorhiesi White 1988

Invalid names: Archaeolagus sonoranus Alvarez 1963 [nomen dubium]

G. †Notolagus Wilson 1937

†Notolagus lepusculus Hibbard 1939

†Notolagus velox Wilson 1937

Invalid names: Dicea Hibbard 1939 [synonym]

G. †Panolax Cope 1874

†Panolax sanctaefidei Cope 1874

G. †Aztlanolagus Russell and Harris 1986

†Aztlanolagus agilis Russell and Harris 1986

G. †Chadrolagus Gawne 1978

†Chadrolagus emryi Gawne 1978

Tr. Dasyporcina Gray 1825

G. Coelogenys Illiger 1811

Subfm. †Desmatolaginae Burke 1941

Invalid names: Agispelaginae Gureev 1953 [synonym]

G. †Desmatolagus Matthew and Granger 1923

†Desmatolagus ardynense Burke 1941

†Desmatolagus chinensis Erbajeva and Sen 1998

†Desmatolagus gazini Burke 1936

†Desmatolagus gobiensis Matthew and Granger 1923

Invalid names: Desmatolagus parvidens Bohlin 1937 [synonym], Desmatolagus radicidens Teilhard de Chardin 1926 [synonym], Desmatolagus shargaltensis Bohlin 1937 [synonym], Procaprolagus mongolicus Gureev 1960 [synonym], Procaprolagus orlovi Gureev 1960 [synonym], Sinolagomys tatalgolicus Gureev 1960 [synonym]

†Desmatolagus orlovi Gureev 1960

†Desmatolagus periaralicus Lopatin 1998

†Desmatolagus pusillus Teilhard de Chardin 1926

†Desmatolagus robustus Matthew and Granger 1923

Invalid names: Agispelagus youngi Gureev 1960 [synonym], Procaprolagus maximus Gureev 1960 [synonym]

†Desmatolagus schizopetrus Dawson 1965

†Desmatolagus simplex Argyropulo 1940

†Desmatolagus veletus Lopatin 1998

†Desmatolagus vetustus Burke 1941

†Desmatolagus vusillus Storer 1984

†Desmatolagus youngi Gureev 1960

Invalid names: Agispelagus Argyropulo 1939 [synonym], Procaprolagus Gureev 1960 [synonym]

G. †Dituberolagus Tong 1997

†Dituberolagus venustus Tong 1997

G. †Gobiolagus Burke 1941

†Gobiolagus aliwusuensis Fostowicz-Frelik et al. 2012

†Gobiolagus burkei Meng et al. 2005

†Gobiolagus gromovi Erbajeva 1999

†Gobiolagus hekkeri Shevyreva 1995

†Gobiolagus lii Zhang et al. 2001

†Gobiolagus major Burke 1941

†Gobiolagus tolmachovi Burke 1941

Invalid names: Gobiolagus andrewsi Burke 1941 [synonym]

G. †Hypsimylus Zhai 1977

†Hypsimylus beijingensis Zhai 1977

†Hypsimylus yihesubuensis Meng and Hu 2004

G. †Lagotherium Pictet 1853

G. †Lepoides White 1988

†Lepoides lepoides White 1988

Subfm. †Leporinae Trouessart 1880

G. †Alilepus Dice 1931

†Alilepus browni Hay 1921

†Alilepus dietrichi Fejfar 1961

†Alilepus hibbardi White 1991

†Alilepus vagus Gazin 1934

†Alilepus wilsoni White 1991

Invalid names: Allolagus Dice 1929 [synonym]

G. Brachylagus Miller 1900 [pygmy rabbit]

†Brachylagus coloradoensis Ramos 1999

G. Caprolagus Blyth 1845

Caprolagus hispidus Pearson 1839 [hispid hare]

G. Lepus Linnaeus 1758 [hare]

Lepus alleni Mearns 1890 [antelope jackrabbit]

Invalid names: Lepus giganteus Brown 1908 [synonym]

Lepus americanus Erxleben 1777 [snowshoe hare]

Lepus arcticus Ross 1819

†Lepus benjamini Hay 1921

Lepus californicus Gray 1837 [black-tailed jackrabbit]

Lepus callotis Wagler 1830

Lepus capensis Linnaeus 1758 [cape hare]

†Lepus ennisianus Cope 1881

Lepus europaeus Pallas 1778 [European hare]

Lepus othus Merriam 1900

Lepus somaliensis Heuglin 1861

Lepus timidus Linnaeus 1758 [mountain hare]

Invalid names: Lepus hibernicus Bell 1837 [synonym], Lepus variabilis Pallas 1778 [synonym]

Lepus townsendii Bachman 1839 [white-tailed jackrabbit]

Invalid names: Lepus campestris Bachman 1837 [synonym]

Lepus whytei Thomas 1894

G. Nesolagus Forsyth Major 1899 [striped rabbit]

G. Oryctolagus Lilljeborg 1874

Oryctolagus cuniculus Linnaeus 1758 [European rabbit]

Invalid names: Cuniculus Meyer 1790 [synonym]

G. Pentalagus Lyon 1904 [Amami rabbit]

G. †Pliolagus Kormos 1934

G. †Pliosiwalagus Patnaik 2001

†Pliosiwalagus sivalensis Forsyth Major 1899

†Pliosiwalagus whitei Patnaik 2001

G. †Pratilepus Hibbard 1939

†Pratilepus kansasensis Hibbard 1939

G. †Pronolagus Lyon 1904

G. Romerolagus Merriam 1896 [volcano rabbit]

G. †Serengetilagus Dietrich 1941

G. †Lushilagus Li 1965

†Lushilagus danjiangensis Tong and Lei 1987

†Lushilagus lohoensis Li 1965

G. †Nekrolagus Hibbard 1939

†Nekrolagus progressus Hibbard 1939

Invalid names: Pediolagus Hibbard 1939 [synonym]

G. †Nuralagus Quintana et al. 2011

†Nuralagus rex Quintana et al. 2011

G. †Ordolagus de Muizon 1977

†Ordolagus teilhardi Burke 1941

Subfm. †Palaeolaginae Dice 1929

G. †Litolagus Dawson 1958

†Litolagus molidens Dawson 1958

G. †Megalagus Walker 1931

†Megalagus abaconis Hayes 2000

†Megalagus brachyodon Matthew 1903

Invalid names: Desmatolagus dicei Burke 1936 [synonym]

†Megalagus dawsoni Black 1961

†Megalagus primitivus Schlaikjer 1935

†Megalagus turgidus Cope 1873

Invalid names: Palaeolagus triplex Cope 1873 [synonym], Tricium paniense Cope 1873 [synonym]

G. †Mytonolagus Burke 1934

†Mytonolagus petersoni Burke 1934

†Mytonolagus wyomingensis Wood 1949

G. †Palaeolagus Leidy 1856

†Palaeolagus burkei Schlaikjer 1935

†Palaeolagus haydeni Leidy 1856

Invalid names: Archaeolagus striatus Walker 1931 [synonym], Palaeolagus agapetillus Cope 1873 [synonym], Protolagus affinus Walker 1931 [synonym], Tricium annae Cope 1873 [synonym], Tricium avunculus Cope 1873 [synonym], Tricium leporinum Cope 1873 [synonym]

†Palaeolagus hemirhizis Korth and Hageman 1988

†Palaeolagus hypsodus Schlaikjer 1935

†Palaeolagus intermedius Matthew 1899

†Palaeolagus philoi Dawson 1958

†Palaeolagus primus Emry and Gawne 1986

†Palaeolagus temnodon Douglass 1902

Invalid names: Protolagus Walker 1931 [synonym], Tricium Cope 1873 [synonym]

G. †Paranotolagus Miller and Carranza-Castaneda 1982

†Paranotolagus complicatus Miller and Carranza-Castaneda 1982

G. †Pewelagus White 1984

†Pewelagus dawsonae White 1984

†Pewelagus mexicanus Miller and Carranza-Castaneda 1982

G. †Pliopentalagus Gureev and Konkova 1964

G. †Pronotolagus White 1991

†Pronotolagus albus Voorhies and Timperley 1997

†Pronotolagus apachensis Gazin 1930

†Pronotolagus nevadensis Kelly 2000

†Pronotolagus whitei Korth 1998

G. †Sardolagus Angelone et al. 2018

†Sardolagus obscurus Angelone et al. 2018

G. †Shamolagus Burke 1941

†Shamolagus grangeri Burke 1941

†Shamolagus medius Burke 1941

G. Sylvilagus Gray 1867 [cottontail rabbit]

Subg. Sylvilagus (Limnolagus) Mearns 1897

Subg. Sylvilagus (Tapeti) Gray 1867

Sylvilagus (Tapeti) salentus Allen 1913

Sylvilagus aquaticus Bachman 1837 [swamp rabbit]

Sylvilagus audubonii Baird 1858 [desert cottontail]

Sylvilagus bachmani Waterhouse 1839

Sylvilagus boylei Allen 1916

Sylvilagus brasiliensis Linnaeus 1758 [tapeti]

Sylvilagus cunicularius Waterhouse 1848 [Mexican cottontail]

Sylvilagus floridanus Allen 1890 [eastern cottontail]

Invalid names: Lepus sylvaticus Bachman 1837 [replaced]

Sylvilagus gabbi Allen 1877

†Sylvilagus hibbardi White 1984

Sylvilagus idahoensis Merriam 1891 [pygmy rabbit]

†Sylvilagus leonensis Cushing 1945

Invalid names: Sylvilagus palustrellus Gazin 1950 [synonym]

Sylvilagus nuttallii Bachman 1837 [mountain cottontail]

Sylvilagus palustris Bachman 1837 [marsh rabbit]

Sylvilagus transitionalis Bangs 1895

†Sylvilagus webbi White 1991

G. †Tachylagus Storer 1992

†Tachylagus gawneae Storer 1992

G. †Trischizolagus Radulesco and Samson 1967

†Trischizolagus dumitrescuae Radulesco and Samson 1967

†Trischizolagus maritsae de Bruijn et al. 1970

†Trischizolagus mirificus Qiu and Storch 2000

G. †Veterilepus Radulesco and Samson 1967

G. †Zaissanolagus Erbajeva 1999

Invalid names: Caviina Gray 1825 [empty], Hydrocharina Gray 1825 [empty], Lagomina Gray 1825 [empty], Leporina Gray 1825 [empty], Leporinorum Fischer de Waldheim 1817 [replaced], Mytonolaginae Burke 1941 [empty]

Diagnosis

No diagnoses are available

Measurements

No measurements are available

Composition:

phosphaticsubp

Environment:

terrestrialsubc

Locomotion:

actively mobilec

Life habit:

ground dwellingf

Diet:

grazerf

Diet 2:

browserf

Reproduction:

viviparoussubc

Comments:

life habit and diet based on Nowak 1999f

Created:

2005-06-08 10:11:09

Modified:

2005-08-26 13:52:57

Source: f = family, subc = subclass, c = class, subp = subphylum

References: Hendy et al. 2009, Ji et al. 2002, Carroll 1988, Nowak 1991, Lillegraven 1979

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Ypresian to the top of the Holocene or 56.00000 to 0.00000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 47.8 Ma

Collections (1596 total)

Time interval	Ma	Country or state	Original ID and collection number
Oldest occurrences
Ypresian	56.0 - 47.8	Kyrgyzstan (Osh)	Romanolagus hekkeri (28490)
Sharamurunian	56.0 - 37.71	China (Henan)	Gobiolagus sp. (41120)
Sharamurunian	56.0 - 37.71	Mongolia	Gobiolagus aliwusuensis (182486)
Middle Eocene	47.8 - 37.71	China (Jiangsu)	Lushilagus lohoensis, Lagomorpha indet. (37493)
Middle Eocene	47.8 - 37.71	Mongolia	Gobiolagus sp. (174909) Gobiolagus sp., Shamolagus sp. (75718) Shamolagus grangeri (127656)
Middle Eocene	47.8 - 37.71	China (Nei Mongol)	Gobiolagus aliwusuensis (174721) Gobiolagus major, Desmatolagus vetustus, Gobiolagus andrewsi (61229) Gobiolagus sp. (174737) Gobiolagus sp., Gobiolagus tolmachovi, Shamolagus medius, Gobiolagus burkei (28786) Gobiolagus tolmachovi (176020) Gobiolagus tolmachovi, Shamolagus medius (174748) Palaeolaginae indet., Shamolagus grangeri (28792)
Middle Eocene	47.8 - 37.71	China (Beijing)	Hypsimylus beijingensis (174745)
Middle Eocene	47.8 - 37.71	China (Henan)	Lushilagus lohoensis (46193)
Late/Upper Uintan	46.2 - 39.7	Canada (Saskatchewan)	Leporidae indet., Procaprolagus vusillus (16626)
Late/Upper Uintan	46.2 - 39.7	USA (Montana)	Mytonolagus petersoni (16584)
Uintan	46.2 - 39.7	USA (Wyoming)	Mytonolagus petersoni (16513 16514 16517 16518)
Uintan	46.2 - 39.7	USA (Montana)	Leporidae indet. (222922)
Uintan	46.2 - 39.7	USA (Utah)	Mytonolagus petersoni (16531 16607) Mytonolagus sp. (213066)
Uintan	46.2 - 39.7	USA (California)	Mytonolagus sp. (16590)
Bartonian - Rupelian	41.3 - 28.1	Mexico (Oaxaca)	Archaeolagus sp. (166797)
Duchesnean	39.7 - 37.0	USA (Wyoming)	Leporidae indet., Mytonolagus wyomingensis (16826) Mytonolagus wyomingensis (16853 16884)
Duchesnean	39.7 - 37.0	USA (Montana)	Mytonolagus wyomingensis (16854)
Duchesnean	39.7 - 37.0	Canada (Saskatchewan)	Lagomorpha indet. (16845) Tachylagus sp. (16846)
Duchesnean - Chadronian	39.7 - 33.9	USA (Montana)	Megalagus sp., Palaeolagus sp. (16840)
Duchesnean - Chadronian	39.7 - 33.9	Canada (Saskatchewan)	Leporidae indet. (17020)