| Phasianinae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Erectile clade: represented by a Mongolian ringneck-type common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) cock | |
 | |
| Nonerectile clade: represented by an Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) peacock | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Galliformes |
| Family: | Phasianidae |
| Subfamily: | Phasianinae Horsfield, 1821 |
| Type genus | |
| Phasianus | |
| Genera | |
See text | |
The Phasianinae (Horsfield, 1821) are a subfamily of the pheasant family (Phasianidae) of landfowl, the order Galliformes. The subfamily includes true pheasants, tragopans, grouse, turkey and similar birds. [1] Although this subfamily was considered monophyletic and separated from the partridges, francolins, and Old World quails (Perdicinae) until the early 1990s, [1] [2] molecular phylogenies have shown that this placement is paraphyletic. For example, some partridges (genus Perdix ) are more closely affiliated to pheasants, whereas Old World quails and partridges from the genus Alectoris are closer to junglefowls. [3] [4] There are two clades in the Phasianinae: the erectile clade and the non-erectile clade, referring to erectile tissue in the non-feathered parts of the face. Both clades are believed to have diverged during the early Oligocene, about 30 million years ago. [5]
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The Phasianinae are characterised by strong sexual dimorphism, males being highly ornate with bright colours and adornments, such as wattles and long tails. Males are usually larger than females and have longer tails. Males play no part in rearing the young. They typically eat seeds and some insects.
