0.8" Palaeolagus Hayeni Fossil Jaw Section Teeth Oligocene Epoch South Dakota Display

Location: Brule Formation, Pennington County, South Dakota

Weight: 0.2 Ounces

Dimensions: 0.8 Inches Long, 0.4 Inches Wide, 0.2 Inches Thick

Comes with a free display.

The item pictured is the one you will receive. 

Oligocene epoch, 33.9 to 23 million years ago

Palaeolagus Hayeni is an extinct lagomorph species, specifically an ancient rabbit, that lived in North America during the Oligocene epoch. This species belongs to the genus Palaeolagus, which is considered one of the earliest and most primitive lagomorph groups, showing traits that connect ancestral mammals to modern rabbits and hares.

Fossil evidence of Palaeolagus hayeni primarily consists of cranial and dental remains, which are crucial for its identification and classification. The dentition of Palaeolagus hayeni shows features typical of lagomorphs, such as continuously growing incisors and cheek teeth adapted for grinding fibrous plant material. However, its limb structure suggests a less specialized hopping locomotion compared to modern rabbits, indicating a more generalized cursorial or scampering gait. The study of Palaeolagus hayeni provides significant insights into the early evolutionary history and diversification of lagomorphs, helping to trace the lineage of modern rabbits and hares.