Late Neogene and Quaternary lagomorphs from Tuscany: a revision based on specimens in Basel Naturhistorisches Museum and Florence University collections

A revision of the Late Turolian (Messinian)–Biharian (Early Pleistocene) lagomorphs from Tuscany kept in the collections of the Basel Naturhistorisches Museum is the basis for increasing our knowledge on the Late Neogene and Quaternary Italian lagomorph record. The study of the NMB collection has been combined with a revision of coeval Tuscan lagomorphs recorded in the collections of the University of Florence. The taxa herein studied and described represent three leporids (Alilepus meini from the Early Messinian of Baccinello V3, Trischizolagus sp. from the latest Messinian of Borro Strolla, and Oryctolagus valdarnensis from the Early Pleistocene of Upper Valdarno) and two ochotonids (Prolagus cf. sorbinii from the Early Messinian of Velona and the latest Messinian to earliest Pliocene of Borro Strolla, and Prolagus aff. sorbinii from the Late Pliocene of Arcille and the Early Pleistocene of Upper Valdarno). The taxonomic study is completed with notes on evolutionary tendencies and palaeobiogeography of the studied species.