Lagopus is a small genus of birds in the grouse subfamily commonly known as ptarmigans (/ˈtɑːrmɪɡənz/). The genus contains three living species with numerous described subspecies, all living in tundra or cold upland areas.
The genusLagopus was introduced by the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760 with the willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) as the type species.[1][2] The genus name Lagopus is derived from Ancient Greeklagos (λαγος), meaning "hare, rabbit", + pous (πους), "foot", in reference to the feathered feet and toes typical of this cold-adapted group (such as the snowshoe hare). The specific epithetsmuta and leucura were for a long time misspelt mutus and leucurus, in the erroneous belief that the ending of Lagopus denotes masculine gender. However, as the Ancient Greek term λαγωπους is of feminine gender, and the specific epithet has to agree with that, the feminine muta and leucura are correct.[3]
The English name ptarmigan comes from the Scottish Gaelic name for the bird, tarmachan ([Scottish Gaelic pronunciation:['t̪ʰaɾaməxan]]), meaning “croaker”, which refers to the bird’s frog-like call. The p- was added due to a mistaken belief in a Greek origin, as if the word were related to the Greek word πτερόν (pterón), 'wing'.
Descriptionedit
Egg of a Lagopus
The three species are all sedentary specialists of cold regions. Willow ptarmigan is a circumpolar boreal forest species, white-tailed ptarmigan is a North American alpine bird, and rock ptarmigan breeds in both Arctic and mountain habitats across Eurasia and North America. With the exception of the red grouse (a subspecies of willow ptarmigan),[4] all have a white winter plumage that helps them blend into the snowy background. Even their remiges are white, while these feathers are black in almost all birds (even birds that are predominantly white, such as the Bali myna) because melanin makes them more resilient and thus improves flight performance. The Lagopus grouse apparently found it easier to escape predators by not being seen than by flying away.[citation needed]
These are hardy vegetarian birds, but insects are also taken by the developing young. In all species except for the willow ptarmigan, the female takes all responsibility for nesting and caring for the chicks, as is typical with gamebirds.
Speciesedit
The distinctive form of willow ptarmigan, the red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scotica), native to the British Isles, was considered a separate species, L. scotica, but this is no longer accepted
Lagopus mutus correzensis (Pleistocene of W Europe)
Referencesedit
^Brisson, Mathurin Jacques (1760). Ornithologie, ou, Méthode Contenant la Division des Oiseaux en Ordres, Sections, Genres, Especes & leurs Variétés (in French and Latin). Paris: Jean-Baptiste Bauche. Vol. 1, p. 26, Vol. 1, p. 181.
^Peters, James Lee, ed. (1934). Check-list of Birds of the World. Vol. 2. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. p. 29.
^David, Normand; Gosselin, Michel (2002). "The grammatical gender of avian genera". Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. 122 (4): 257–282 [258, 279].
^"Willow Ptarmigan Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology".
^Gill, Frank; Donsker, David, eds. (2019). "Pheasants, partridges, francolins". World Bird List Version 9.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
^Boev, Z. 1995. "Middle Villafranchian birds from Varshets (Western Balkan Range - Bulgaria)". In: Peters, D. (ed.). Acta palaeornithologica. 3. Symposium SAPE. 5. Internat. Senckenberg-Konferenz 22–26 Juni 1992. - Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg. Frankfurt a. M., 181: 259-269.
Madge, Steve; McGowan, Philip J. K. & Kirwan, Guy M. (2002): Pheasants, partidges and grouse: a guide to the pheasants, partridges, quails, grouse, guineafowl, buttonquails and sandgrouse of the world. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN0-7136-3966-0.
External linksedit
Media related to Lagopus at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
lagopus, ptarmigan, redirects, here, other, uses, ptarmigan, disambiguation, small, genus, birds, grouse, subfamily, commonly, known, ptarmigans, ɑːr, genus, contains, three, living, species, with, numerous, described, subspecies, living, tundra, cold, upland,. Ptarmigan redirects here For other uses see Ptarmigan disambiguation Lagopus is a small genus of birds in the grouse subfamily commonly known as ptarmigans ˈ t ɑːr m ɪ ɡ en z The genus contains three living species with numerous described subspecies all living in tundra or cold upland areas LagopusTemporal range Early Pliocene to present Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Galliformes Family Phasianidae Tribe Tetraonini Genus LagopusBrisson 1760 Type species Tetrao lagopusLinnaeus 1758 Species See text Contents 1 Taxonomy and etymology 2 Description 3 Species 3 1 Fossil record 4 References 5 External linksTaxonomy and etymology editThe genus Lagopus was introduced by the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760 with the willow ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus as the type species 1 2 The genus name Lagopus is derived from Ancient Greek lagos lagos meaning hare rabbit pous poys foot in reference to the feathered feet and toes typical of this cold adapted group such as the snowshoe hare The specific epithets muta and leucura were for a long time misspelt mutus and leucurus in the erroneous belief that the ending of Lagopus denotes masculine gender However as the Ancient Greek term lagwpoys is of feminine gender and the specific epithet has to agree with that the feminine muta and leucura are correct 3 The English name ptarmigan comes from the Scottish Gaelic name for the bird tarmachan Scottish Gaelic pronunciation t ʰaɾamexan meaning croaker which refers to the bird s frog like call The p was added due to a mistaken belief in a Greek origin as if the word were related to the Greek word pteron pteron wing Description edit nbsp Egg of a Lagopus The three species are all sedentary specialists of cold regions Willow ptarmigan is a circumpolar boreal forest species white tailed ptarmigan is a North American alpine bird and rock ptarmigan breeds in both Arctic and mountain habitats across Eurasia and North America With the exception of the red grouse a subspecies of willow ptarmigan 4 all have a white winter plumage that helps them blend into the snowy background Even their remiges are white while these feathers are black in almost all birds even birds that are predominantly white such as the Bali myna because melanin makes them more resilient and thus improves flight performance The Lagopus grouse apparently found it easier to escape predators by not being seen than by flying away citation needed These are hardy vegetarian birds but insects are also taken by the developing young In all species except for the willow ptarmigan the female takes all responsibility for nesting and caring for the chicks as is typical with gamebirds Species edit nbsp The distinctive form of willow ptarmigan the red grouse Lagopus lagopus scotica native to the British Isles was considered a separate species L scotica but this is no longer accepted The genus contains three species 5 Living species of Lagopus Common and scientific names Image Description Range and status Willow ptarmigan also willow grouse and red grouse Lagopus lagopusLinnaeus 1758 nbsp Summer marbled brown and reddish with black tail and white underparts winter most subspecies have white plumage except for black tail 10 20 subspecies Circumarctic range in forest and moorlands of northern Eurasia and North America Status Least Concern Rock ptarmiganLagopus mutaMontin 1781 nbsp Summer grey and brown upperparts winter white plumage Distinguish from willow ptarmigan by habitat higher elevations and more barren ground 20 30 subspecies Arctic and subarctic Eurasia and North America on rocky mountainsides and tundra Status Least Concern White tailed ptarmiganLagopus leucuraRichardson 1831 nbsp Summer greyish brown and speckled winter white plumage Males identifiable by reddish eyecombs The smallest ptarmigan Alpine areas above the timberline in North America from Alaska and western Canada to New Mexico Status Least Concern Fossil record edit Two prehistoric species and two paleosubspecies are only known from fossils Lagopus atavus Early Pliocene of Bulgaria Late Pliocene Lagopus balcanicus Late Pliocene of Varshets Bulgaria 6 Lagopus lagopus noaillensis Pleistocene of W Europe Lagopus mutus correzensis Pleistocene of W Europe References edit Brisson Mathurin Jacques 1760 Ornithologie ou Methode Contenant la Division des Oiseaux en Ordres Sections Genres Especes amp leurs Varietes in French and Latin Paris Jean Baptiste Bauche Vol 1 p 26 Vol 1 p 181 Peters James Lee ed 1934 Check list of Birds of the World Vol 2 Cambridge Massachusetts Harvard University Press p 29 David Normand Gosselin Michel 2002 The grammatical gender of avian genera Bulletin of the British Ornithologists Club 122 4 257 282 258 279 Willow Ptarmigan Overview All About Birds Cornell Lab of Ornithology Gill Frank Donsker David eds 2019 Pheasants partridges francolins World Bird List Version 9 1 International Ornithologists Union Retrieved 3 April 2019 Boev Z 1995 Middle Villafranchian birds from Varshets Western Balkan Range Bulgaria In Peters D ed Acta palaeornithologica 3 Symposium SAPE 5 Internat Senckenberg Konferenz 22 26 Juni 1992 Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg Frankfurt a M 181 259 269 Madge Steve McGowan Philip J K amp Kirwan Guy M 2002 Pheasants partidges and grouse a guide to the pheasants partridges quails grouse guineafowl buttonquails and sandgrouse of the world Christopher Helm London ISBN 0 7136 3966 0 External links edit nbsp Media related to Lagopus at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lagopus amp oldid 1192806416, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
