Bornean Peacock-Pheasant

Bornean Peacock-Pheasant ( Polyplectron schleiermacheri )

The Borneo Spiegelpfau ( Polyplectron schleiermacheri ), also called Borneo Peacock-Pheasant, is a species of the family of the pheasant -like. In its distribution is restricted to the lowlands of Borneo, where it is the only representative of the genus Pfaufasane. Very little is known about the species; in its native range it is rarely observed. Most knowledge about these types come from the captivity.

Appearance

Borneo Spiegelpfaue have a wing length of about 16.5 (females ) to 20 inches (male ) on. Weight data has not been so far published for this species.

The male has an almost black body bottom. Within the Pfaufasane this is the only kind that has such a plumage coloration. Breast and sides of the neck are of a irisdizierenden green. The actual throat is greenish to purplish- irisdizierend. To the eyes runs a small, red area of ​​skin. The females do not have striking plumage coloring. For observations in the wild, they can be distinguished from other females exclusively by the pheasant -like, that they are in the vicinity of male Borneo Spiegelpfaue.

On the tail feathers run two rows of eye-catching Augflecken. The jacket, which is also strongly resisted in courtship is filled with a variety of green -violet Augflecken.

Way of life

Captive Bornean Spiegelpfaue prefer a rich insect food. However, they also eat berries and seeds. In captivity they can be held exclusively singly or in pairs. The animals are very aggressive during the mating season. The ornithologist Paul Johnsgard reported it to have been attacked by a Bornean Peacock-Pheasant. Here, the bird tried to hurt him with his spurs on his face. Like other Pfaufasane also has this bird on a distinctive courtship behavior, in which the display of plumage plays a major role.

System

In general, the Borneo Spiegelpfau as a separate species within the genus of Pfaufasane. In the scientific literature has also been suggested that the Borneo Spiegelpfau is classified as a subspecies of the Malayan Spiegelpfau.

The endemic on the island of Palawan Palawan Peacock-Pheasant, which is geographically isolated strongest among all Pfaufasanen, is considered a species that has emerged from the Borneo Spiegelpfau. Are now approximately 150 kilometers between the islands of Borneo and Palawan. During the Pleistocene, however, the sea level was so low that a chain of islands allowed an exchange of species between the two islands.

Swell