Udzungwa Forest-partridge
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| Xenoperdix udzungwensis Dinesen, Lehmberg, Svendsen, Hansen & Fjeldså, 1994 |
The Udzungwa Forest-partridge, Xenoperdix udzungwensis also known as Udzungwa Partridge is a small, approximately 29cm 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.
Discovered only in 1991, this bird was first noticed as a pair of strange feet in a cooking pot in a Tanzanian forest camp. It inhabits and is endemic to forests of the Udzungwa Mountains in Tanzania. A second population from the Rubeho Highlands was initially believed to be a well-marked subspecies, but is now recognized to be specifically distinct.[2] The diet consists mainly of beetles, ants and seeds.
Due to ongoing habitat loss, small population size, limited range and overhunting in some areas, the Udzungwa Forest-partridge is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
[edit] References
- ^ BirdLife International (2004). Xenoperdix udzungwensis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 29 July 2006. Database entry includes a discussion of why this species is endangered, and the criteria used.
- ^ 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
[edit] External links
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