Ptilopachus
Encyclopedia
Ptilopachus is an Africa
n genus of bird
s in the pheasant
family. As traditionally defined, only the Stone Partridge
was included in this genus, but based on genetic
evidence it now also includes the Nahan's Partridge (formerly considered a francolin
). The study also concludes that this genus is more closely related to the New World Quail
, but many taxonomists still include this with the Phasianidae
. At about 25 centimetres (9.8 in) in length, both are relatively small, terrestrial
birds with a red eye-ring, base of the bill and legs, and brownish upperparts.
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n genus of bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s in the pheasant
Phasianidae
The Phasianidae is a family of birds which consists of the pheasants and partridges, including the junglefowl , Old World Quail, francolins, monals and peafowl. The family is a large one, and is occasionally broken up into two subfamilies, the Phasianinae, and the Perdicinae...
family. As traditionally defined, only the Stone Partridge
Stone Partridge
The Stone Partridge, Ptilopachus petrosus, is a bird of the pheasant family. This largely brown bird, which commonly holds its tail raised, is found in scrubland and lightly wooded habitats, often near rocks, from Kenya and Ethiopia to Gambia...
was included in this genus, but based on genetic
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
evidence it now also includes the Nahan's Partridge (formerly considered a francolin
Francolin
Francolins are birds that traditionally have been placed in the genus Francolinus, but now commonly are divided into multiple genera , although some of the major taxonomic listing sources have yet to divide them. They are members of the pheasant family, Phasianidae...
). The study also concludes that this genus is more closely related to the New World Quail
New World quail
The New World quails or Odontophorids are small birds only distantly related to the Old World Quails, but named for their similar appearance and habits. The American species are in their own family Odontophoridae, whereas Old World Quail are in the pheasant family Phasianidae...
, but many taxonomists still include this with the Phasianidae
Phasianidae
The Phasianidae is a family of birds which consists of the pheasants and partridges, including the junglefowl , Old World Quail, francolins, monals and peafowl. The family is a large one, and is occasionally broken up into two subfamilies, the Phasianinae, and the Perdicinae...
. At about 25 centimetres (9.8 in) in length, both are relatively small, terrestrial
Terrestrial animal
Terrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land , as compared with aquatic animals, which live predominantly or entirely in the water , or amphibians, which rely on a combination of aquatic and terrestrial habitats...
birds with a red eye-ring, base of the bill and legs, and brownish upperparts.