| Rubeho forest partridge | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
 Endangered (IUCN 3.1) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Galliformes |
| Family: | Phasianidae |
| Genus: | Xenoperdix |
| Species: | X. obscuratus |
| Binomial name | |
| Xenoperdix obscuratus Fjeldså & Kiure, 2003 | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Xenoperdix udzungwensis obscurata | |
The Rubeho forest partridge (Xenoperdix obscuratus) is a small, approximately 29 centimetres (11 in) long, boldly barred, brownish partridge with rufous face, grey underparts, and olive-brown crown and upperparts. It has a red bill, brown iris, and yellow legs. Both sexes are similar.
It inhabits and is endemic to forests of the Rubeho Mountains in Tanzania. It was formerly considered to be a well-marked subspecies of the Udzungwa forest partridge (Xenoperdix udzungwensis obscurata) of the Udzungwa Mountains, but is now recognized to be specifically distinct. Its diet consists mainly of beetles, ants, and seeds.
Due to ongoing habitat loss, small population size, limited range, and overhunting, Xenoperdix obscuratus is considered endangered, although it has not been evaluated by the IUCN separately from X. udzungwensis.
Notes
- As a subspecies of Xenoperdix udzungwensis. X. obscuratus has not been evaluated separately by IUCN.
References
- ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Xenoperdix udzungwensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22678901A92794026. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22678901A92794026.en.
- ^ Bowie, Rauri C. K.; Fjeldså, Jon (2005). "Genetic and morphological evidence for two species in the Udzungwa forest partridge Xenoperdix udzungwensis". Journal of East African Natural History. 94 (1): 191–201. doi:10.2982/0012-8317(2005)94[191:GAMEFT]2.0.CO;2. S2CID 59430148.
- Fjeldså, J.; Kuire, J. (2003). "A new population of the Udzungwa forest partridge, Xenoperdix udzungwensis". Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. 123: 52–57.
External links
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Xenoperdix obscuratus | |