White partridges ( Lagopus ( Brisson , 1760) ) - a genus of small and medium-sized birds from the subfamily grouse , order of chicken .
| Partridge |
Partridge male and female |
| Scientific classification |
|---|
| No rank : | Bilateral symmetrical |
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| International scientific name |
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Lagopus Brisson , 1760 |
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Content
They are interesting both in terms of lifestyle and in their adaptability to climatic conditions.
This genus differs from other grouse birds in that the heel and fingers are covered with thick hairy feathers [1] that protect the legs from the influence of cold. In addition, the claws of white partridges are longer than those of other grouse, and change annually before molting begins.
The male and female differ little from each other, and young soon become similar to adults. Changes in the plumage of these birds are noticed by the seasons ( seasonal dimorphism ) and are expressed in a color change that occurs either due to molting, or due to simple discoloration of the feathers.
White plumage is observed in all species , except for one of the subspecies of the partridge ( L. lagopus scoticus ), and helps them to be indistinguishable from the snowy background.
Representatives of the genus Lagopus are inhabitants of cold regions . Ptarmigan lives in the northern circumpolar forests. White-tailed partridge is common in the mountains of North America , and the tundra partridge inhabits both the Arctic and mountainous regions of Eurasia and North America.
On the territory of the former USSR , the white partridge and the tundra partridge that live in the tundra and highlands are widespread.
Partridge male in mating outfit
They are settled birds. Hardy in harsh environments. They feed on plant foods, but chicks also eat insects .
In all species, except for the partridge, only the female is engaged in hatching eggs and hatching, which is typical for game birds.
Previously, up to six species of this genus were isolated. Currently, the genus is formed by three species, which differ somewhat in appearance and lifestyle:
- Partridge - Lagopus lagopus ( Linnaeus , 1758)
- White-tailed Partridge - Lagopus leucurus ( Richardson , 1831)
- Ptarmigan - Lagopus mutus ( Montin , 1781)
- Molecular genetics
- The deposited nucleotide sequences in the database EntrezNucleotide , GenBank , NCBI , USA : 2809 (as of February 18, 2015).
- Deposited protein sequences in the database EntrezProtein , GenBank, NCBI, USA: 2491 (as of February 18, 2015).
Most of the deposited sequences belong to the partridge ( L. lagopus ), the genetically most studied representative of this genus.
- ↑ Hence the Latin name of the genus - Lagopus , originating from the Greek. λαγως is the hare and πους is the leg.
- Madge S., McGowan P., Kirwan GM Pheasants, Partridges, and Grouse: A Guide to the Pheasants, Partridges, Quails, Grouse, Guineafowl, Buttonquails, and Sandgrouse of the World. - Princeton, NJ, USA: Princeton University Press, 2002 .-- 488 p. - ISBN 0-7136-3966-0 . (eng.)
- Partridge White // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary : in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.
- Partridges // Great Soviet Encyclopedia : [in 30 vol.] / Ch. ed. A.M. Prokhorov . - 3rd ed. - M .: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969-1978.
