Biology:Hainan peacock-pheasant
| Hainan peacock-pheasant | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Galliformes |
| Family: | Phasianidae |
| Genus: | Polyplectron |
| Species: | P. katsumatae
|
| Binomial name | |
| Polyplectron katsumatae Rothschild, 1906
| |
The Hainan peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron katsumatae) is an endangered bird that belongs to the pheasant family Phasianidae. This extremely rare species is endemic to the island of Hainan, China .
Description
The bird was long considered a subspecies of grey peacock-pheasant or Polyplectron bicalcaratum. The Hainan peacock-pheasant is smaller, and it possesses a short crest and ruff (Johnsgard 1986).[full citation needed] It has red facial skin as opposed to grey in the yellow-orange facial skin of the grey peacock-pheasant. Beebe (1922)[full citation needed] noted various plumage differences between the two and considered them separate species.[2]
Taxonomy
Due to lack of detailed taxonomic studies, whether it was truly a subspecies (Polyplectron bicalcaratum katsumatae) or a full species remained unclear. Scientists used molecular markers, including the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and intron G of the nuclear ovomucoid gene, to reevaluate the taxonomy of the Hainan peacock-pheasant. The results showed phylogeographic monophyly and large genetic distance between the Hainan peacock-pheasant and the grey peacock-pheasant. Sequence differences corroborated the species-level distinction between these two peacock-pheasants, which were inferred to have diverged about 1.4±0.3 million years ago, near the time Hainan Island became separated from mainland China . BirdLife International has also decided to recognize the split of Polyplectron katsumatae from Polyplectron bicalcaratum.[3]
Conservation status
Due to a very low population density[4] in tropical forest and declining population, it is now becoming severely endangered and should be regarded as the rarest species in the order Galliformes in China . Taking more conservation action immediately to protect this endangered island endemic is imperative.
See also
- List of endangered and protected species of China
References
- ↑ BirdLife International (2022). "Polyplectron katsumatae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T22734897A207341783. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22734897/207341783. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ↑ "OBC Checklist". http://orientalbirdimages.org/new-obc-checklist-commentary.html.
- ↑ "Birdlifeforums". http://www.birdlifeforums.org/WebX?13@@.2cba6deb/1.
- ↑ Chang, Jiang; Wang, Biao; Zhang, Yang-Yun; Liu, Ying; Liang, Wei; Wang, Ji-Chao; Shi, Hai-Tao; Su, Wen-Ba et al. (2008). "Molecular Evidence for Species Status of the Endangered Hainan Peacock Pheasant". Zoological Science 25 (1): 30–35. doi:10.2108/zsj.25.30. PMID 18275243.
- Collar, N. (2009) Hainan Peacock-Pheasant: another CR species for the IUCN Red List? G@llinformed 2: 14–19.
- del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Sargatal, J. eds. (1994) Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 2. New World Vultures to Guineafowl. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions.
- Madge, S. and McGowan, P. (2002) Pheasants, Partridges & Grouse. London: Christopher Helm.
Literature cited
- Burns, Chang; J. Wang; B. Zhang; Y.Y. Liu; Y. Liang; W. Wang; J.C. Shi; H.T. Su et al. (2008). "Molecular Evidence for Species Status of the Endangered Hainan Peacock-Pheasant". Zoological Science 25 (1): 30–35. doi:10.2108/zsj.25.30. PMID 18275243.
Wikidata ☰ Q2193519 entry
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