The Hainan Peacock Pheasant (Polyplectron katsumatae),the smallest allied species of somber forest peacock pheasants among the taxa of Polyplectron spp.,is a rare tropical forest bird endemic to China,and distributed only in the mountainous region of central and southwestern Hainan Island dominated by evergreen broadleaf forests.By integrating references and unpublished data based on our field surveys,we presented information on species status,distribution and population,habitat and home range,breeding ecology and conservation of the Hainan Peacock Pheasant.Future investigation should focus on its life history traits in relation to vulnerability.Considering its limited distribution and small population size,it has recently been recognized as "Endangered" by the IUCN Red List to prevent loss of this island endemic.
The phylogeny of the monal pheasants (Lophophorus) and their relationships to some species of the genera Tragopan,Pucrasia and Ithaginis were studied by comparing mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) nucleotide sequences.The molecular phylogenetic trees show that:①the genus Tragopan and the genus Pucrasia share a common ancestor which is the sister taxon of the ancestor of the genus Lophophorus;②the genus Lophophorus had evolved into two branches:One was the Sclaters Monal;the other included the Chinese Monal and the Himalayan Monal.Considering its molecular phylogeny,distribution patterns and morphological evidences,the genus Lophophorus might originate in the Hengduan mountains region of southwestern China.
