Late Cenozoic Lagomorphs Diversity in Eurasia

Abstract

Lagomorphs are an ancient group of mammals that originated in the Paleogene of Asia. During the time of evolution a high number of taxa can be traced. The stem group of lagomorphs inhabited Asia while tropical environmental conditions existed. Later, a gradual change towards more continental and arid climate was driven by the Antarctic glaciation. It resulted in significant reorganisations of paleoenvironmental and climatic conditions in Asia. Landbridges between Asia and North America and Europe, respectively, allowed faunal exchanges, and diversification and speciation of lagomorphs occurred at the northern continents. The earliest lagomorphs were represented by archaic leporids and paleolagids which were gradually replaced by ochotonids, that flourished during the Miocene and Pliocene. The diversity and abundance of ochotonids decreased during the Pleistocene and only the genus Ochotona survived.