Rubeho forest partridge | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Galliformes |
Family: | Phasianidae |
Genus: | Xenoperdix |
Species: | X. obscuratus |
Binomial name | |
Xenoperdix obscuratus Bowie & Fjeldså, 2005 |
The Rubeho forest partridge (Xenoperdix obscuratus) is a small, approximately 29 cm long, boldly barred, brownish partridge with rufous face, grey underparts, 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 Highlands in Tanzania. It was formerly considered to be a well-marked subspecies of the Udzungwa forest partridge, Xenoperdix udzungwensis of the Udzungwa Mountains, but is now recognized to be specifically distinct ). The diet consists mainly of beetles, ants and seeds.
Due to ongoing habitat loss, small population size, limited range and overhunting, the Rubeho forest partridge is now endangered