Palawan Peacock-pheasant

Taxobox
name = Palawan Peacock-pheasant
status = VU | status_system = IUCN3.1

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image_width = 225px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Galliformes
familia = Phasianidae
genus = "Polyplectron"
species = "P. napoleonis"
binomial = "Polyplectron napoleonis"
binomial_authority = Lesson, 1831
synonyms =
* "Polyplectrum napoleonis" Lesson, 1831 ("lapsus")
* "Polyplectron emphanum" Temminck, 1832 [See Dickinson (2001).] The Palawan Peacock-pheasant, "Polyplectron napoleonis," also known as the Napoleon Peacock-pheasant, is a medium-sized (up to 50 cm long) bird in the family Phasianidae. It was long known as "Polyplectron emphanum" (Dickinson 2001).

The male is the handsomest and most peacock-like member of the genus "Polyplectron." It has an erectile crest, a white stripe over the eyes and highly iridescent metallic green and black plumage. The tail feathers are decorated with large blue-green ocelli, which may be spread fanlike in courtship displays. The female is smaller than the male. It has a dark brown plumage with a short crest and is whitish on the throat, cheeks and eyebrows.

Endemic to the Philippines, the Palawan Peacock-pheasant is found in the humid forests of Palawan Island in the southern part of the Philippine archipelago. The female usually lays up to two eggs.

The Palawan Peacock-pheasant, with its unique male plumage and distant range, represents a basal (Early? Pliocene, c.5-4 mya [Note that the molecular clock calibration method used by Kimball "et al." (2001) is now known to be inappropriate, yielding far too low estimates in galliform birds.Fact|date=February 2007] )offshoot of the genus "Polyplectron" (Kimball "et al." 2001).

Due to ongoing habitat loss, small population size and limited range as well as hunting and capture for trade, the Palawan Peacock-pheasant is classified as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix I of CITES.

Gallery

References

* The database entry includes justification for why this species is vulnerable.
* Dickinson, E. C. (2001): The correct scientific name of the Palawan Peacock-pheasant is "Polyplectron napoleonis" (Lesson, 1831). "Bull. B. O. C." 121(4): 266-272.
* Kimball, Rebecca T.; Braun, Edward L.; Ligon, J. David; Lucchini, Vittorio & Randi, Ettore (2001): A molecular phylogeny of the peacock-pheasants (Galliformes: "Polyplectron" spp.) indicates loss and reduction of ornamental traits and display behaviour. "Biol. J. Linn. Soc." 73(2): 187–198. [http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/els/00244066/2001/00000073/00000002/art90536 HTML abstract]
* Lesson, René-Primevère (1831): "Traite d'Ornithologie" 7:487; 8: 650.
* Temminck, Coenraad Jacob (1832): "Nouveau Recueil de Planches coloriées d'Oiseaux" 88 plate 540.

Footnotes

External links

* ARKive - [http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/birds/Polyplectron_napoleonis/ images and movies of the Palawan Peacock-pheasant "(Polyplectron napoleonis)"]
* [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=281&m=0 BirdLife Species Factsheet]
* [http://www.rdb.or.id/detailbird.php?id=222 Red Data Book]