Xenoperdix
| Xenoperdix | ||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||
| Xenoperdix | ||||||||
| Dinesen , Lehmberg , Svendsen , Hansen & Fjeldså , 1994 |
Xenoperdix is a genus from the pheasant-like family, whose representatives live in the mountains of Tanzania. The genus was not scientifically described until 1994. Two species belong to it, namely the Udzungwawachtel ( Xenoperdix udzungwensis ) and the Rubehowachtel ( Xenoperdix obscurata ).
features
The two species of the genus Xenoperdix have a lower body with conspicuous horizontal stripes. There is no sexual dimorphism , the tail consists of 14 feathers, which distinguishes them from the wood partridges, among other things. The legs are spore-free and the beak is small and red.
species
Originally the genus was considered monotypical : only the Udzungwawachtel was included in the genus. In the meantime, genetic studies have shown that the Rubeho quail is the second species to be included in the genus . The Rubehowachtel was a subspecies of the Udzungwawachtel until 2005. Both species are considered endangered because they only have a very small range.
Systematics
The species of the genus Xenoperdix are forest-dwelling chicken birds that are more closely related to the wood partridges of Southeast Asia than to the African Frankolines . It is therefore assumed that, like the Congo peacock , the two species of the genus are relics from the Miocene , when the Tethys Ocean shortened and an exchange of animals between Africa and India could take place. In the meantime, the relationship between the forest-living representatives of the genus Xenoperdix and the Southeast Asian wood partridges has also been proven on the basis of genetic analyzes .
The two species of the genus have probably lived separately from one another for millions of years. Between the two forest areas in which they occur, there is an area with open plateaus and a large river.
Discovery story
The possibility that there might be an as yet undescribed species or even a genus in the mountains of Tanzania became clear to four Danish biologists when they noticed chicken bird feet that did not show any spores in the cooking pot prepared for them. They had previously seen a group of chicken birds that reminded them of francolin. The birds had a conspicuously different color of plumage compared to the francolin species they found in their identification books. However, the biologists did not rule out that the discrepancy was due to the inadequate illustration of their identification books. They observed the birds no less than 85 times before one of their local guides managed to catch two of the animals in a snare. The scientific description of the newly discovered species - the Udzungwa quail, which was placed in its own genus - took place in 1994.
In the year 2000, birds were observed in the Rubeho Mountains, 150 kilometers away from the occurrence of the Udzungwa quail, which were initially considered to be another population of the Udzungwa quail. The Tanzanian ornithologist Jacob Kiure returned to this area in 2001 together with Jon Fjeldså. Fjeldså was already involved in the first scientific description of the Udzungwa quail. They noticed that the birds in this population were not only significantly smaller than the animals further south, but that they also differed significantly from them in terms of their plumage. The assumption that it was just a subspecies was not confirmed. As DNA tests showed, the genetic differences were so great that the newly discovered population received species status and is now listed as Rubeho quail ( Xenoperdix obscurata ).
supporting documents
literature
- Dominic Couzens : Rare Birds - Survivors, Evolution Losers and the Lost. Haupt Verlag, Bern 2011, ISBN 978-3-258-07629-4 .
- Steve Madge , Phil McGowan , Guy M. Kirwan : Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse. A Guide to the Pheasants, Partridges, Quails, Grouse, Guineafowl, Buttonquails and Sandgrouse of the world. Christopher Helm, London 2002, ISBN 0-7136-3966-0 .
- Rauri CK Bowie, Jon Fjeldså (2005): Genetic and morphological evidence for two species in the Udzungwa forest partridge . Journal of East African Natural History 94 (1): 191-201. doi : 10.2982 / 0012-8317 (2005) 94 [191: GAMEFT] 2.0.CO; 2