Orange River francolin

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Orange River francolin
Orange River francolin, Scleroptila levaillantoides, at Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Botswana (32117354732).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Genus: Scleroptila
Species:
S. gutturalis
Binomial name
Scleroptila gutturalis
(Rüppell, 1835)
Synonyms

Francolinus levaillantoides

The Orange River francolin (Scleroptila gutturalis) is a species of bird in the family Phasianidae found in grassland and woodland in Africa. [2] In the taxa from the northern part of its distribution (Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia, Uganda and Kenya), the neck-line does not reach the eye and the belly is whitish. [2] In the southern taxa (Angola, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and Lesotho) the neck-line reaches the eye and the belly is buff. [2] This has led some authorities to treat them as separate species: The Archer's or acacia francolin (S. gutturalis with subspecies lorti) in the north, and the Orange River francolin (S. levaillantoides with subspecies jugularis) in the south. [2]

Contents

Taxonomy

Scleroptila gutturalislevalliantoides (Smith, 1836) was made available as levalliantoides. [3] The name is probably misspelled, and can easily be confused with Scleroptila levaillantii . Both are likely named after Francois Levaillant.

References

  1. BirdLife International. (2024). "Scleroptila gutturalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2024: e.T22678790A263615304. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T22678790A263615304.en . Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 McGowan, P. J. K. (1994). Orange River Francolin (Francolinus levaillantoides). Pp. 494-495 in: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., & Sargatal, J. eds. (1994). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 2. New World Vultures to Guineafowl. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN   84-87334-15-6
  3. Andrew Smith, Sir Andrew Smith (1836). Report of the Expedition for Exploring Central Africa from the Cape of Good ... Oxford University. Printed at theGovernment GazetteOffice.