Abstract
ABSTRACT. Phylogenetic relationships among 20 species of extinct and living pikas (Ochotona) from Asia, Europe and North America were investigated by examining 38 cranial, mandibular and dental characters. Our data support phylogenetic distinction of three clades (Ochotona, Conothoa and Pika) recognized in recent molecular studies. Among the pikas of the subgenus Conothoa we found a lineage including three extinct species from Central Europe (in their number Ochotona kormosi sp. nov. from the Pleistocene of Hungary, described herein) along with extant O. roylei as a sister taxon. Our results suggest paraphyly of the subgenus Conothoa as currently understood. In addition, the steppe pika (O. pusilla) was recovered as a separate clade outside the monophyletic subgenera. Our cladistic analysis is the first to examine phylogenetic placement of extinct forms within extant lineages of Ochotona. O. dodogolica is proposed as a member of Pika, O. polonica, O. kormosi and O. zabiensis as close to O. roylei, and O. ...
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