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Ptilopachus
Genus of birds From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Ptilopachus is an African genus of birds in the New World quail family.
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Taxonomy
The genus Ptilopachus was introduced in 1837 by the English naturalist William Swainson to accommodate a single species, the stone partridge, which is therefore the type species.[2][3] The genus name is from Ancient Greek ptilon meaning "feather" with pakhus meaning "thick" or "dense".[4]
As traditionally defined, only the stone partridge was included in this genus, but based on genetic evidence, it now also includes Nahan's partridge (formerly considered a francolin). The study also concludes that this genus is more closely related to the New World quails (Odontophoridae) and might be considered their only African representative.[5][6][7]
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Description
At about 25 cm (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.[8]
See also
- Donacobius, the only American species of an otherwise Old World bird lineage
References
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