Pheasant

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Phasianinae
Mongolian Ringneck-type Common Pheasant cock
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Horsfield, 1821
Subfamily: Phasianinae
Horsfield, 1821
Genus

Argusianus
Catreus
Chrysolophus
Crossoptilon
Ithaginis
Lophura
Phasianus
Polyplectron
Pucrasia
Rheinardia
Syrmaticus

Pheasants refer to some members of the Phasianinae (Horsfield, 1821) subfamily of Phasianidae in the order Galliformes.

Pheasants are characterised by strong sexual dimorphism, males being highly ornate with bright colours and adornments such as wattles and long tails. Males are usually larger than females and have longer tails. Males play no part in rearing the young. Pheasants typically eat seeds and some insects.

The best-known is the Common Pheasant, which is widespread throughout the world in introduced feral populations and in farm operations. Various other pheasant species are popular in aviaries, such as the Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus).

Contents

[edit] Uses of pheasants

Pheasants are traditionally shot for sport and for the table, and are valued for their attractive appearance.

[edit] Species in taxonomic order

This list is ordered to show presumed relationships between species

Pheasant Fowling.--"Showing how to catch Pheasants."--Fac-simile of a Miniature in the Manuscript of the "Livre du Roy Modus" (Fourteenth Century).

[edit] Previous classifications

Euplocamus and Gennceus are older names more or less corresponding to the current Lophura.

These old genera were used for:

Vernacular Hume & Marshall Finn: Sporting Birds Finn: Game Birds Contemporary
Vieilott's Crested Fireback E. vielloti Lophura rufa (sic) L. ignita rufa
Black-backed Kalij E. melanonotus G. melanonotus L. leucomelanos melanota
Common or White-crested Kalij E. albocristatus G. albocristatus L. leucomelanos hamiltoni
Nepal Kalij E. leucomelanus G. leucomelanus L. leucomelanos leucomelanos
Purple, Horsfield's or Black-breasted Kalij E. horsfieldi G. horsfieldi L. leucomelanos lathami
Lineated Kalij E. lineatus G. lineatus also: Burmese Silver Pheasant L. leucomelanos lineata
Anderson's Silver Pheasant  ? G. andersoni, considered hybrid of L. nycthemera and L. l. lineata L. nycthemera andersoni (invalid)
Crawfurd's Silver Pheasant (or Crawford's? ) E. andersoni considered a further cross of Anderson's and L. l. lineata  ?
Crawfurd's Kalij (same as C.'s Silver Pheasant?)  ? G. andersoni L. leucomelanos crawfurdi
Cuvier's Kalij  ? G. cuvieri  ?
Oates's Kalij  ? G. oatesi L. leucomelanos oatesi
Whitehead's Silver Pheasant  ? G. whiteheadi  ?
Swinhoe's Kalij  ? G. swinhoii L. swinhoii

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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