Family Ochotonidae (Lagomorpha) and its application in biochronology: some case studies from the Plio-Quaternary of Eurasia

In this paper, some case studies of Eurasian Plio-Quaternary are illustrated, in which the value of ochotonids as biochronological tools is evidenced at different scales. At a local scale, ochotonids (genus Prolagus) revealed to be very useful for the reconstruction of the chronological succession of infilling of karst fissure complexes. At a larger scale, ochotonids (genus Ochotona) can be used for regional and interregional correlations. At the Eurasian scale, a representative of the family Ochotonidae (genus Ochotonoma) is an excellent biochronological marker. These encouraging results indicate the importance and the potential of ochotonids in biochronology. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.