Rubeho forest partridge

Rubeho forest partridge
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Subfamily: Perdicinae
Genus: Xenoperdix
Species: X. obscuratus
Binomial name
Xenoperdix obscuratus
Bowie & Fjeldså, 2005

The Rubeho forest partridge (Xenoperdix obscuratus) is a small, approximately 29 cm long, boldly barred, brownish partridge with rufous face, grey underparts, olive-brown crown and upperparts. It has a red bill, brown iris and yellow legs. Both sexes are similar.

It inhabits and is endemic to forests of the Rubeho Highlands in Tanzania. It was formerly considered to be a well-marked subspecies of the Udzungwa forest partridge, Xenoperdix udzungwensis of the Udzungwa Mountains, but is now recognized to be specifically distinct [1]). The diet consists mainly of beetles, ants and seeds.

Due to ongoing habitat loss, small population size, limited range and overhunting, the Rubeho forest partridge is now endangered

References

  1. Bowie, Rauri C.K. & Fjeldså, Jon (2005): Genetic and morphological evidence for two species in the Udzungwa forest partridge. Journal of East African Natural History 94(1): 191–201. PDF fulltext

External links


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