Pternistis

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***Pternistis*** is a genus of galliform birds formerly classified in the spurfowl group of the partridge subfamily of the pheasant family. They are described as "partridge-francolins" in literature establishing their phylogenetic placement outside the monophyletic assemblage of true spurfowls. Its 24 species range through sub-Saharan Africa. They are commonly known as spurfowls or francolins, but are closely related to jungle bush quail, *Alectoris* rock partridges, and *Coturnix* quail. The species are strictly monogamous, remaining mated indefinitely. They procure most of their food by digging. Spurfowls subsist almost entirely on roots, beans of leguminous shrubs and trees, tubers, and seeds, and feasting opportunistically on termites, ants, locusts, flowers, and fruit. Important predators are jackals, caracals, servals, and birds of prey, as well as herons and marabou storks.

The genus *Pternistis* was introduced by the German naturalist Johann Georg Wagler in 1832.[1] The name is from the Ancient Greek *pternistēs* meaning "one who strikes with the heel".[2] The type species was designated by the English zoologist George Robert Gray in 1841 as the Cape spurfowl (*Pternistis capensis*).[3][4]

Most of the species within the genus formerly included "francolin" in their common name.[5] Beginning in 2004 various ornithologists have recommended that it would be clearer to restrict the use of "francolin" to members of the genus *Francolinus* and closely related species and to use "spurfowl" for all members of the genus *Pternistis*.[6][7] This recommendation was adopted in 2020 by Frank Gill and colleagues in the online list of world birds that they maintain on behalf of the International Ornithological Committee (IOC).[5] The common name "spurfowl" is also used for the three Asian species that are placed in the genus *Galloperdix*.[5]

## Species[edit]

The genus contains 24 species:[5]

* Hartlaub's spurfowl, *Pternistis hartlaubi*
* Mount Cameroon spurfowl, *Pternistis camerunensis*
* Handsome spurfowl, *Pternistis nobilis*
* Swierstra's spurfowl, *Pternistis swierstrai*
* Erckel's spurfowl, *Pternistis erckelii*
* Djibouti spurfowl, *Pternistis ochropectus*
* Chestnut-naped spurfowl, *Pternistis castaneicollis*
* Black-fronted spurfowl, *Pternistis atrifrons*
* Jackson's spurfowl, *Pternistis jacksoni*
* Scaly spurfowl, *Pternistis squamatus*
* Ahanta spurfowl, *Pternistis ahantensis*
* Grey-striped spurfowl, *Pternistis griseostriatus*
* Hildebrandt's spurfowl, *Pternistis hildebrandti*
* Natal spurfowl, *Pternistis natalensis*
* Red-billed spurfowl, *Pternistis adspersus*
* Cape spurfowl, *Pternistis capensis*
* Heuglin's spurfowl, *Pternistis icterorhynchus*
* Double-spurred spurfowl, *Pternistis bicalcaratus*
* Harwood's spurfowl, *Pternistis harwoodi*
* Clapperton's spurfowl, *Pternistis clappertoni*
* Yellow-necked spurfowl, *Pternistis leucoscepus*
* Swainson's spurfowl, *Pternistis swainsonii*
* Grey-breasted spurfowl, *Pternistis rufopictus*
* Red-necked spurfowl, *Pternistis afer*

## Notes[edit]

1. **^** Mandiwana-Neudani et al (2019) did not sample DNA from the black-fronted spurfowl (*Pternistis atrifrons*) but suggested the taxon should be considered as a subspecies of the chestnut-naped spurfowl (*Pternistis castaneicollis*).[7] In contrast, Töpfer et al (2015) sampled mitochondrial DNA from the black-fronted spurfowl and concluded the taxon should be treated as a distinct species.[8]
2. **^** Mandiwana-Neudani et al. (2019) split the scaly spurfowl and elevate Schuett's spurfowl (*Pternistis squamatus schuetti*) to a full species.[7]
3. **^** Mandiwana-Neudani et al. (2019) split the red-necked spurfowl and elevate Cranch’s spurfowl (*Pternistis afer cranchii*) to a full species.[7]

## References[edit]

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