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Francolins are birds that traditionally have been placed in the genus ''Francolinus'', but now commonly are divided into multiple genera (''see Taxonomy''), although some of the major taxonomic listing sources have yet to divide them. The francolins' closest relatives are the junglefowl, long-billed partridge, ''Alectoris'' and ''Coturnix''. Together this monophyletic clade may warrant family status as the Gallusinidae or in a sub-family Gallusininae. The pheasant Phasianidae and partridge Perdicinidae families have been established as paraphyletic. When all are maintained in a single genus, it is the most diverse of the Galliformes, having by far the most members. Francolins are terrestrial (though not flightless) birds that feed on insects, vegetable matter and seeds. Most of the members have a hooked upper beak, well-suited for digging at the bases of grass tussocks and rootballs. They have wide tails with fourteen retrice feathers. Most species exhibit spurs on the tarsi.〔B P Hall (1963) The Francolins, a study in speciation. Bulletin of the British Museum 10(2):105-204 (Scan )〕 ==Distribution== Of the approximately 40 extant species, the natural range of five (comprising the genus ''Francolinus'') are restricted to Asia, while the remaining genera are restricted to Africa.〔McGowan, P. J. K. (1994). Francolins (genus ''Francolinus''). Pp. 489-504 in: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., & Sargatal, J. eds. (1994). ''Handbook of the Birds of the World.'' Vol. 2. New World Vultures to Guineafowl. Lynx Edicions, Barcelon. ISBN 84-87334-15-6〕 Several species have been introduced to other parts of the world, notably Hawaii. Twelve of the species which occur in Africa are found in the subcontinental region of southern Africa; of these, seven occur in varying proportions within the political boundaries of Namibia. Six southern African francolins are considered endemic to the subcontinent, of which three are found in Namibia (the Hartlaub's, red-billed and Orange River francolins. The Cape spurfowl, endemic to the Cape Province of South Africa, occurs marginally in southern Namibia. A fossil francolin, ''Francolinus capeki'', has been described from Late Pliocene deposits of Hungary; the contemporary fossil galliforms ''"Francolinus" minor'' and ''"F." subfrancolinus'' are now placed in ''Palaeocryptonyx''. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Francolin」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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