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{{short description|Genus of birds}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2013}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Peacock-pheasants
| image = Stavenn Polyplectron napoleonis 01.jpg
| image_caption = male [[Palawan peacock-pheasant]]<br/>''Polyplectron napoleonis''
| display_parents = 2
| taxon = Polyplectron
| parent_authority = [[Edward Blyth|Blyth]], 1852
| authority = [[Coenraad Jacob Temminck|Temminck]], 1807
| type_species = ''[[Grey peacock-pheasant|Polyplectron chinquis]]''<ref name=HM4>{{cite web |url= https://www.aviansystematics.org/4th-edition-checklist?viewfamilies=11 |title= Phasianidae |author= |date= |website= aviansystematics.org |publisher= The Trust for Avian Systematics |access-date= 2023-08-05}}</ref> = ''Pavo bicalcaratus''
| type_species_authority = Temminck, 1823
| synonyms = ''Polyplectrum'' (''lapsus'')
}}

The '''peacock-pheasants''' are a bird genus, '''''Polyplectron''''', of the family [[Phasianidae]], consisting of eight [[species]]. They are colored inconspicuously, relying on heavily on [[crypsis]] to avoid detection. When threatened, peacock-pheasants will alter their shapes using specialised plumage that when expanded reveals numerous iridescent orbs. The birds also vibrate their plume quills further accentuating their [[aposematism]]. Peacock-pheasants exhibit well developed metatarsal spurs. Older individuals may have multiple spurs on each leg. These kicking thorns are used in self-defense.

==Taxonomy==
The genus ''Polyplectron'' was introduced in 1807 by the Dutch zoologist [[Coenraad Jacob Temminck]].<ref>{{ cite book | last=Temminck | first=Coenraad Jacob | author-link=Coenraad Jacob Temminck | year=1807 | title=Catalogue systématique du cabinet d'ornithologie et de la collection de quadrumanes | language=French, Latin | location=Amsterdam | publisher=Chez C. Sepp Jansz | page=149 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B2wdAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA149 }}</ref> The name combines the [[Ancient Greek]] ''polus'' meaning "many" with ''plēktron'' meaning "cock's spur".<ref>{{cite book | last=Jobling | first=James A. | year=2010| title=The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names | publisher=Christopher Helm | location=London | isbn=978-1-4081-2501-4 | page=313 | url=https://archive.org/stream/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling#page/n313/mode/1up }}</ref> The [[type species]] is the [[grey peacock-pheasant]].<ref>{{ cite book | editor-last=Peters | editor-first=James Lee | editor-link=James L. Peters | year=1934 | title=Check-List of Birds of the World | volume=2 | publisher=Harvard University Press | location=Cambridge, Massachusetts | page=130 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14482943 }}</ref>

The systematics of the genus are somewhat unclear. Molecular research has revealed that peacock-pheasants are not genetically related to [[pheasant]]s and only distantly to [[peafowl]]. Their closest allies are the Asiatic [[Galloperdix|spurfowl]] and the [[crimson-headed partridge]], endemic to [[Borneo]]. These three genera share the curious tendency for multiple metatarsal spurs. Though they are somewhat divergent morphologically, their skeletons are nearly identical.

The species of ''Polyplectron'' diverged at some time between, roughly, the [[Early Pliocene]] and the [[Middle Pleistocene]], or 5–1 [[mya (unit)|million years ago]]. ''Polyplectron malacense'' and ''P. schleiermacheri'' form a [[Basal (phylogenetics)|basal]] radiation around the southern [[South China Sea]] together with ''P. napoleonis'', as is confirmed by comparison of [[biogeography]] and [[mtDNA]] [[cytochrome b|cytochrome ''b'']] and [[D-loop]] as well as the [[nuclear DNA|nuclear]] [[ovomucoid]] [[intron]] G.<ref name=Kimball>Kimball, Rebecca T.; Braun, Edward L.; Ligon, J. David; Lucchini, Vittorio & Randi, Ettore (2001): A molecular phylogeny of the peacock-pheasants (Galliformes: ''Polyplectron'' spp.) indicates loss and reduction of ornamental traits and display behaviours. ''[[Biological Journal of the Linnean Society|Biol. J. Linn. Soc.]]'' '''73'''(2): 187–198. [http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/els/00244066/2001/00000073/00000002/art90536 HTML abstract]</ref>

The relationships of the other forms are more poorly understood. ''P. germaini'' and ''P. bicalcaratum'' are similar in [[morphology (biology)|morphology]] and are nearly [[parapatric]]; the molecular data suggests that the latter is a [[symplesiomorphy]]. It would appear that ''P. germaini'' and ''P. katsumatae'' represent an early offshoot of the aforementioned basal radiation. The two montane-adapted species ''P. chalcurum'' and ''P. inopinatum'' are not derived from a single isolation event, and appear to have acquired more subdued coloration independently. A trend in this genus to ''lose''—not gain—pronounced [[sexual dimorphism]] is better supported by biogeographical and molecular data than the alternate scenario.<ref name=Kimball/>

In 2010 the [[IOC World Bird List]] listed the [[Hainan peacock-pheasant]] as a species.<ref name="worldbirdnames.org">[http://www.worldbirdnames.org/updates-PS.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090729080733/http://www.worldbirdnames.org/updates-PS.html|date=July 29, 2009}}</ref> Following [[Jean Théodore Delacour]], this species has historically been listed as a [[subspecies]] of ''P. bicalcaratum''. Prior to reclassification by Delacour, the Hainan peacock-pheasant has been considered a distinct species by several ornithologists. Indeed, when it was first described to science by Katsumata it was considered a distinct species. Prominent organizations including the World Bird List have recently concurred, and species status is currently under review by the [[Oriental Bird Club]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://orientalbirdimages.org/new-obc-checklist-commentary.html |title=OBC Checklist |publisher=Orientalbirdimages.org |access-date=January 16, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015234357/http://orientalbirdimages.org/new-obc-checklist-commentary.html |archive-date=October 15, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> It is considered of utmost importance to have the Hainan peacock-pheasant recognized as a full species due to its [[endangered]] status. The Hainan peacock-pheasant is endemic to the island of [[Hainan]], where its [[population density]] is very low in its [[tropical forest]] habitat on the island and the wild population is declining, making it now severely endangered and among the rarest species in the order [[Galliformes]] in [[China]].

==Species==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Image !! Name !! Common name!! Distribution
|-
|[[File:Palawan Peacock Pheasant - male.jpg|120px]] || ''Polyplectron napoleonis'' – formerly ''P. emphanum'' || [[Palawan peacock-pheasant]]|| Philippines
|-
|[[File:Polyplectron malacense -captive -male-8a.jpg|120px]] || ''Polyplectron malacense'' || [[Malayan peacock-pheasant]]|| Malay Peninsula from the Isthmus of Kra region southwards
|-
|[[File:Polyplectron schleiermacheri -Jurong Bird Park, Singapore-8a.jpg|120px]] || ''Polyplectron schleiermacheri'' ||[[Bornean peacock-pheasant]]|| Borneo
|-
|[[File:Polyplectron germaini -Diergaarde Blijdorp-8.jpg|120px]] ||''Polyplectron germaini'' || [[Germain's peacock-pheasant]]|| mid-southern Vietnam and far eastern Cambodia
|-
|[[File:Polyplectron bicalcaratum male.jpg|120px]] || ''Polyplectron bicalcaratum'' || [[Grey peacock-pheasant]]|| Bangladesh, Northeast India and Southeast Asia
|-
| || ''Polyplectron katsumatae'' – split from ''P. bicalcaratum''<ref name="worldbirdnames.org"/> || [[Hainan peacock-pheasant]]|| Hainan, China
|-
| || ''Polyplectron chalcurum''|| [[Bronze-tailed peacock-pheasant]]|| Indonesia
|-
|[[File:BxZ Polyplectron inopinatum 00b.jpg|120px]] || ''Polyplectron inopinatum'' || [[Mountain peacock-pheasant]]||Malaysia
|-
|}

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{Phasianidae}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q852812}}

[[Category:Aposematic species]]
[[Category:Polyplectron|*]]

Peacock-pheasant - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article