Eared pheasant

Eared pheasant
Blue eared pheasant (Crossoptilon auritum)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Tribe: Phasianini
Genus: Crossoptilon
Hodgson, 1838
Type species
Phasianus crossoptilon
(Hodgson), 1838

Eared pheasants are pheasants from the genus Crossoptilon in the family Phasianidae.

Species

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Established by Brian Houghton Hodgson in 1838, the genus contains four species:[1]

Image Name Common name Distribution
Crossoptilon crossoptilon White eared pheasant China, Qinghai, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Tibet
Crossoptilon harmani Tibetan eared pheasant southeast Tibet and adjacent northern India
Crossoptilon mantchuricum Brown eared pheasant northeastern China (Shanxi and nearby provinces)
Crossoptilon auritum Blue eared pheasant central China

The name Crossoptilon is a combination of the Greek words krossoi, meaning "fringe" and ptilon, meaning "feather"— a name Hodgson felt particularly applied to the white eared pheasant "distinguished amongst all its congeners by its ample fringe-like plumage, the dishevelled quality of which is communicated even to the central tail feathers".[2] All are large, sexually monomorphic and found in China.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "ITIS Report: Crossoptilon". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  2. ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Names. London, UK: Christopher Helm. p. 123. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  3. ^ McGowan, Phil; Madge, Steve (2010). Pheasants, Partridges & Grouse: Including buttonquails, sandgrouse and allies. London, UK: Christopher Helm. p. 312. ISBN 978-0-7136-3966-7.