Tetrao

Tetrao
Temporal range: Early Pliocene to recent
Western capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Galliformes
Family:Phasianidae
Subfamily:Tetraoninae
Genus:Tetrao
Linnaeus, 1758
Species

Tetrao mlokosiewiczi
Tetrao urogalloides
Tetrao tetrix
Tetrao urogallus

Tetrao is a genus of birds in the grouse subfamily. The genus name is derived from the Latin name of a gamebird, probably the black grouse.[1]

Species

There are four extant species:

ImageScientific nameCommon NameDistribution
Tetrao tetrixBlack grouseEurope (Swiss-Italian-French Alps specially) from Great Britain (but not Ireland) through Scandinavia and Estonia into Russia
Tetrao mlokosiewicziCaucasian grousesoutheastern Europe
Tetrao urogallusWestern capercaillieEurope to western Russia
Tetrao urogalloidesBlack-billed capercaillieeastern Russia as well as parts of northern Mongolia and China


The fossil record of this genus is extensive:

  • Tetrao conjugens (Early Pliocene of C Europe)
  • Tetrao rhodopensis (Early Pliocene of Dorkovo, Bulgaria)
  • Tetrao partium (Early Pliocene - Early Pleistocene of SE Europe)
  • Tetrao macropus (Late Pliocene - Early Pleistocene of Hungary)
  • Tetrao praeurogallus (Early - Middle Pleistocene of E Europe)

References

  1. ↑ Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 383. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.