OSTEOLOGY AND ADAPTATIONS OF THE EARLY PLIOCENE RABBIT TRISCHIZOLAGUS-DUMITRESCUAE (LAGOMORPHA, LEPORIDAE)

Analysis of a partial skeleton of the upper Ruscinian lagomorph Trisch izolagus dumitrescuae, from South Moldova, reveals that this taxon was weakly adapted to fast running and was a capable digger. The taxon sh ares with Lepus proportions of the pectoral girdle and a stage of redu ction of the m. subscapularis that is unique among leporids. The skele tal adaptation and dental morphology of Recent Lepus can be derived fr om that of T. dumitrescuae.