Chinese Monal

Chinese Monal
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Subfamily: Phasianinae
Genus: Lophophorus
Species: L. lhuysii
Binomial name
Lophophorus lhuysii
Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire & Verreaux, 1866

The Chinese Monal, Lophophorus lhuysii, is one of the most brilliant of all pheasants. This monal is restricted to mountains of central China. The plumage is highly iridescent. The male has a large drooping purple crest, a metallic green head, blue bare skin around the eyes, a reddish gold mantle, bluish green feathers and black underparts. The female is dark brown with white on its throat.

The is the largest of the three monals and, by mass, is one of the largest pheasants (after the turkeys and the Green and Indian Peafowls). Males measure 76–80 cm (30–31 in) in length while females measure 72–75 cm (28–30 in). The mean weight is reportedly 3.18 kg (7.0 lb).[1]

The scientific name commemorates the French statesman Edmond Drouyn de Lhuys.

Due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation, limited range and illegal hunting, the Chinese Monal is evaluated as Vulnerable on IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix I of CITES.

References

  1. ^ Biddle, Tami Davis, Pheasants, Partridges, and Grouse : A Guide to the Pheasants, Partridges, Quails, Grouse, Guineafowl, Buttonquails, and Sandgrouse of the World (Princeton Field Guides). Princeton University Press (2002), ISBN 978-0691089089

External links