| Crested Argus | |
|---|---|
| Captive born juvenile male of the Annamese species in Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens. | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Galliformes |
| Family: | Phasianidae |
| Subfamily: | Phasianinae |
| Genus: | Rheinardia Maingonnat, 1882 |
| Species: | R. ocellata |
| Binomial name | |
| Rheinardia ocellata (Elliot, 1871) |
|
The Crested Argus (Rheinardia ocellata) is a large and spectacular peacock-like pheasant with dark-brown-spotted black and buff plumage, a pink bill, brown irises and blue skin around the eyes. The head is small with a small crest that is opened during courtship display. The male has a broad and greatly elongated tail of twelve feathers. He measures from 1.9–2.39 m (6.2–7.8 ft) in total length. The tail covert (or "train") of the male is the longest of any bird and is believed to contain the longest (and widest) feathers to occur in a wild bird; the Reeve's Pheasant has tail feathers of similar length but not as wide. The tail covert measure up to 1.73 m (5.7 ft) in length.[1] The female looks similar, with a shorter crest and tail, and averages 0.75 m (2.5 ft) in length. The species is the only member in the monotypic genus Rheinardia. Despite being the most sexually dimorphic galliform by length, the male only weighs about 20% more than the female. The average weight is around 1.5 kg (3.3 lb).[2]
Little is known about this species in the wild. A shy and elusive bird, the Crested Argus is found in forests of Vietnam, Laos and Malaysia in Southeast Asia. The diet consists mainly of, invertebrates,mollusks, amphibians, small reptiles, bamboo shoots, leaves, fruits and fungus. It is believed to be polygamous. The male displays by opening his white crest and flattening out his train of feathers. The female lays two eggs which are incubated for 25 days and takes care of the young by herself.
Like other Peafowl, Crested Argus retire on emergent trees above the forest canopy for many hours a day. They will remain on these trees for days at a time during the wet season. Crested Argus are strong fliers and pairs have been reported flying together.
Due to ongoing habitat loss as well as overhunting in some areas, the Crested Argus is evaluated as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. It is listed on Appendix I of CITES.