Gray Partridges (Phasianidae: Genera Perdix and Enkuria gen. nov.) from the Early Pleistocene of Crimea and Remarks on the Evolution of the Genus Perdix
Journal: Paleontological Journal
Year: 2024

This paper describes remains of fossil gray partridges from the Lower Pleistocene (1.8–1.5 Ma) deposits of the Taurida Cave in Central Crimea. The smaller gray partridge is referred to the fossil species Perdix jurcsaki Kretzoi, 1962. Another phasianid bird from the cave, which is partly similar to modern Perdix but larger than the latter, is described as Enkuria voinstvenskyi gen. et sp. nov. The spatiotemporal stability of the Early–Middle Pleistocene European gray partridge morphotype makes i