Polyplectron

Taxobox
name = Peacock-pheasants


image_width = 225px
image_caption = male Palawan Peacock-pheasant "Polyplectron napoleonis"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Galliformes
familia = Phasianidae
genus = "Polyplectron"
genus_authority = Temminck, 1813
synonyms ="Polyplectrum" ("lapsus")

The genus "Polyplectron" of the family Phasianidae consist of seven peacock-pheasant species. The males have varying display plumage, while the females are colored far more inconspicuously.

The systematics of the genus are somewhat unclear. The species of "Polyplectron" evolved at some time between, roughly, the Early Pliocene and the Middle Pleistocene, or 5-1 mya [The molecular clock used by Kimball "et al." (2001) is a very crude estimate based on an outdated model and uncalibrated by fossil evidence. Hence, their supposed divergence dates are as likely to be wrong as the assumption that sea level changes were not a factor in the genus' radiation is unwarranted at this time.] .The morphologically somewhat aberrant "Polyplectron malacense" and its little-known sister species "P. schleiermacheri" form a basal radiation around the southern South China Sea together with the striking "P. napoleonis", as is confirmed by comparison of biogeography and mtDNA cytochrome "b" and D-loop as well as the nuclear ovomucoid intron G (Kimball "et al." 2001).

The relationships of the other forms are more poorly understood. "P. germaini" and "P. bicalcaratum" are similar in morphology and are nearly parapatric; the molecular data suggests that the latter is a symplesiomorphy, but with not too high confidence. In any case, the brownish insular or peninsular species "chalcurum" and "inopinatum" do not seem to be derived from a single isolation event, and seem to have acquired the more subdued coloration independently. The trend in this genus to "lose", not to gain, pronounced sexual dimorphism is better supported by biogeographical and molecular data than the alternate scenario.(Kimball "et al." 2001)

Species

* Palawan Peacock-pheasant, "Polyplectron napoleonis" - formerly "P. emphanum"
* Malayan Peacock-pheasant, "Polyplectron malacense"
* Bornean Peacock-pheasant, "Polyplectron schleiermacheri"
* Germain's Peacock-pheasant, "Polyplectron germaini"
* Grey Peacock-pheasant, "Polyplectron bicalcaratum"
* Bronze-tailed Peacock-pheasant, "Polyplectron chalcurum"
* Mountain Peacock-pheasant, "Polyplectron inopinatum"

References

* 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 behaviours. "Biol. J. Linn. Soc." 73(2): 187–198. [http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/els/00244066/2001/00000073/00000002/art90536 HTML abstract]

Footnotes