关于兔科中亚科划分的若干建议

SOME PROPOSALS ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBFAMILIES OF LEPORIDAE

兔形目(Lagomorpha)按传统分类习惯被划分为兔类(Harcs)、穴兔类(Rabbits)和鼠兔类(Pikas)三大类群,已得到国际公认。但是,兔类实际上仅是一个属——兔属(Lepus)。按过去的分类系统,划归在兔亚科(Lcporinae)中,丝毫体现不出兔类在兔形目中作为三大类群之一的分类地位。然而,若结合生态与形态一并研究,则发现兔类与穴兔类初生的幼兔形态与生态明显有异:兔类终生在地面生活,初生的幼兔全身具毛,眼睁开,不久便能走路;为避天敌,需迅速奔跑,后腿变长,而奔跑中需氧多,后鼻孔变宽(翼内窝的宽度大)。穴兔类产仔在地下洞穴中,初生幼兔没毛,闭着眼,不会走动;避天敌主要靠迅速钻洞,奔跑慢,后鼻孔窄。它们生态与形态差异如此之大,在相似性大,而差异性小的野兔来说,应作为演化中新变所产生的新征。兔属可独立成亚科,称兔亚科为宜。穴兔类中,古兔亚科(Palacolaginae)自成独立亚科;其余的穴兔类应另立一新亚科,为穴兔亚科(Rabbitinae, nom. nov.)。

Lagomorpha according to the traditional classefication was classified into three major groups: the hare, the rabbit and pika, but in the old systematics, the hare had not been paid attention to which it was one of the important component part of lagomorphys and it was only a member of leporinae and mingled the hare with the rabbits, which was not ideal classification. From the evolutionary points of view, the differences between the hare and the rabbits are found in various features of anatomy and in certain types of behavior. The rabbits are born in a relatively undeveloped condition and the young ones are born naked, blind and helpless in a fur-lined nest, specially the young hare is born fully haired in the open, instead of nest. In lepus the palatal bridge are short and the mesopterygoid space are broad and the length of the palatal bridge is less than 110% at average, usually, less than 106% of the mosopterygoid width. In the large majority of the rabbits the mesopterygoid region are narrow, the width of the space immediately behind the palatal are much shorter than the least longitudinal diameter of palatal bridge, whose average than 110% of the mesopterygoid width just mentioned.By means of the above arguments, the author presents a suitable system of leporidae as following:Ⅰ.Palaeolaginae; (1)Pentalagus; (2)Romerolagus; (3)Pronolagus.Ⅱ.Rabbitinae(nom.nov.) (4)Caprolagus; (5)Nesolagus; (6)Oryetolagus;(7)Poelagus; (8)Sylvilagus。Ⅲ.Leporinae (9)Lepus.In the system the hare and the rabbits all have their ideal taxonomic categories.