Eared pheasants are pheasants from the genus Crossoptilon in the family Phasianidae.
| Eared pheasant | |
|---|---|
| |
| Blue eared pheasant (Crossoptilon auritum) | |
Scientific 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
| |
Species
editEstablished 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
edit- ^ "ITIS Report: Crossoptilon". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
- ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Names. London, UK: Christopher Helm. p. 123. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
- ^ 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.