Mitochondrial genome reconstruction from ancient sample

Prolagus sardus (Wagner, 1829) is an extinct species of the family Ochotonidae that populated Sardinia and Corsica islands. Morphological analyses on bones and teeth suggest that this species was related to the modern pikas, even if with an increased body size. However, its precise phylogenetic position within the order Lagomorpha is still uncertain. Archaeozoological remains consisted by broken bones suggested that Prolagus sardus was one of the main protein sources for many carnivorous predators and for hunters. Several evidences that this Sardinian pika-like lagomorph was eaten by humans were found in a lot of Sardinian archaeological sites suggesting that this species was very abundant in this island in ancient times. According to historical sources, P. sardus survived until Roman times in some Sardinian minor islands that were refuge areas.