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
- ↑ 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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