Tang Guan
| Tang Guan | ||||||||||||
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Tang Guan ( Oreophasis derbianus ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Oreophasis | ||||||||||||
| Gray , 1844 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Oreophasis derbianus | ||||||||||||
| Gray , 1844 |
The Tang Guan ( Oreophasis derbianus ) is a large fowl from the Hokko family. It is classified in the monotypic genus Oreophasis and occurs in Mexico and Guatemala. The species is named after Edward Smith Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby , who was the first to keep these birds in his menagerie at Knowsley Hall.
features
The Zapfenguan reaches a size of about 85 cm. The top is glossy black. The legs are red, the iris white and the beak yellow. The red horn on the top of the head is characteristic. The chest and upper abdomen are white, and its long tail feathers are black with a white band near the base. Both sexes look the same. The young birds are paler with a smaller horn. Their tail and wings are brown.
Distribution, habitat and way of life
The Tang Guan is common in the humid mountain forests of the Mexican state of Chiapas and in Guatemala in Central America . It occurs at altitudes up to 3350 m. Its diet consists mainly of fruits, leaves and invertebrates. The female usually lays up to two eggs.
Systematics
The cone guan does not belong to the real guans, but only shows a similarity in shape and color with these birds. The horn, on the other hand, is reminiscent of the Helmhokkos. In fact, the species is the only survivor of a primordial line of Hokko chickens that evolved independently of any other living member of this family over the past 20 million years, perhaps even 40 million years.
In view of the fact that the basic kinship relationships between the Hokko chickens have not yet been well researched, the Guan Guan is often placed in its own subfamily Oreophasinae.
Hazard and protection
Due to the ongoing habitat destruction, a small population , a limited distribution area and hunting in some regions, the Guan Guan is classified as "critically endangered" by the IUCN . It is listed in Appendix I of the CITES Agreement.
literature
- Curassows, Guans and Chachalacas: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan for Cracids 2000-2004 (IUCN / SSC Cracid Specialist Group)
- Josep del Hoyo : Familia CRACIDAE Cracidae (Chachalacas, Guans and Curassows). In: Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: New World Vultures to Guineafowl. 1994.
Individual evidence
- Oreophasis derbianus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2008. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2008. Accessed January 2 of 2009.
- Pereira, Sérgio Luiz; Baker, Allan J. & Wajntal, Anita (2002): Combined nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences resolve generic relationships within the Cracidae (Galliformes, Aves). Systematic Biology 51 (6): 946-958. doi : 10.1080 / 10635150290102519 PDF full text ( Memento from December 17, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
Web links
- BirdLife Species Factsheet
- Mexican postage stamps (three copies)
- Videos, photos and sound recordings for Oreophasis derbianus in the Internet Bird Collection