Taxonomy and systematics Common pheasant

hybrid male in europe, intermediate between mongolian ringneck , caucasus group phenotype

this species first scientifically described linnaeus in systema naturae in 1758 under current scientific name. common pheasant distinct enough other species known linnaeus laconic [phasianus] rufus, capîte caeruleo – red pheasant blue head – serve entirely sufficient description. moreover, bird had been extensively discussed before linnaeus established binomial nomenclature. sources ornithologia of ulisse aldrovandi, giovanni pietro olina s uccelliera, john ray s synopsis methodica avium & piscium, , natural history of birds eleazar albin. therein—essentially bulk of ornithology textbooks of day—the species named pheasant in books respective languages. whereas in other species, such eastern meadowlark (sturnella magna), linnaeus felt warranted cite plumage details sources, in common pheasant s case referred reason of bird s fame: principum mensis dicatur. type locality given africa, asia .

however, bird not occur in africa, except perhaps in linnaeus time in mediterranean coastal areas might have been introduced during roman empire. type locality later fixed rioni river in western georgia – known phasis ancient greeks – westernmost population occurs. these birds, until modern era, constituted bulk of introduced stock in europe; birds described linnaeus sources, though typically belonging such introductions, have more alleles in common transcaucasian population others. scientific name latin pheasant colchis , colchicus referring west of modern-day georgia; ancient greek term corresponding english pheasant phasianos ornis (Φασιανὸς ὂρνις), bird of river phasis . although linnaeus included many galliformes in genus phasianius—such domestic chicken , wild ancestor red junglefowl, nowadays gallus gallus—today common , green pheasant placed in genus. latter not known linnaeus in 1758, common pheasant naturally type species of phasianus.

in usa, common pheasants known ring-necked pheasants . more colloquial north american names include chinks or, in montana, phezzens . in china, meanwhile, species called zhi ji (雉鸡)— pheasant-fowl —essentially implying same english name common pheasant . elsewhere, p. colchicus such familiar bird in china referred shan ji (山雞), mountain chicken , chinese term pheasants in general.

as of 2005, had smallest known genome of living amniotes, 0.97 pg (970 million base pairs); however, black-chinned hummingbird held have smallest.

subspecies

chinese ringneck-type male (note grey rump) pale female, illustrating dramatic difference in both color , size between sexes per sexual dimorphism.

there 30 subspecies in 5 (sometimes six) groups. these can identified according male plumage, namely presence or absence of white neck-ring , color of uppertail (rump) , wing coverts. noted above, introduced population in our time mix alleles of various races in various amounts, differing according original stock used introductions , natural selection according climate , habitat has made of that.

an investigation genetic relationships of subspecies revealed earliest subspecies have been elegans, suggesting common pheasant originated forests of southeastern china. initial divergence thought have occurred around 3.4 mya. lack of agreement between morphology-based subspecies delimitation , genetic relationships thought attributed past isolation followed more recent population mixing pheasant has expanded range across western palaearctic.

sometimes species split central asian common , east asian ring-necked pheasants, separated arid , high mountainous regions of turkestan. however, while western , eastern populations entirely separate during zyryanka glaciation when deserts more extensive, separation not long enough actual speciation occur. today, largest variety of color patterns found western , eastern populations mix, expected. females cannot identified subspecies group certainty.

the subspecies groups, going west east, , notable subspecies are: