Great Argus
Encyclopedia
The Great Argus, Argusianus argus (also known as Phoenix
in some Asian areas) is a brown-plumage
d pheasant with a small blue head and neck, rufous red upper breast, black hair-like feathers on crown and nape, and red legs. The male is among the largest of all pheasants. He measures 160–200 cm (63–78.7 in) in total length, including a tail of 105–143 cm (41.3–56.3 in), and weighs 2.04–2.72 kg (4.5–6 lb). It has very long tail feathers. The male's most spectacular features are its huge, broad and greatly elongated secondary wing feathers decorated with large ocelli
. The female is smaller and duller than male, with shorter tails and less ocelli. She measures 72–76 cm (28.3–29.9 in) in total length, including a tail of 30–36 cm (11.8–14.2 in), and weighs 1.59–1.7 kg (3.5–3.7 lb). Young males attain adult plumage in their third year.
The Great Argus is distributed in the jungles of Borneo
, Sumatra
and Malay Peninsula
in southeast Asia
. It feeds on forest floor in early morning and evening. Unusual among Galliformes
, the Great Argus has no oil gland
and the hen lays only two eggs.
Though the Great Argus is not as colorful as other pheasant
s, its display surely ranks among the most remarkable. The male clears an open spot in the forest and prepares a dancing ground. He announces himself with loud calls to attract females, then he dances before her with his wings spread into two enormous fans, revealing hundred of "eyes" while his real eyes are hidden behind it, staring at her.
Despite displays similar to polygamous birds and though the Great Argus is thought to be polygamous in the wild, it is actually monogamous.
The scientific name of the Great Argus was given by Carolus Linnaeus
in reference to the many eyes-like pattern
on its wings. Argus
is a hundred-eyed giant in Greek mythology
.
Due to ongoing habitat loss and hunted in some areas, the Great Argus is evaluated as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List
. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES.
Phoenix (mythology)
The phoenix or phenix is a mythical sacred firebird that can be found in the mythologies of the Arabian, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, Indian and Phoenicians....
in some Asian areas) is a brown-plumage
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
d pheasant with a small blue head and neck, rufous red upper breast, black hair-like feathers on crown and nape, and red legs. The male is among the largest of all pheasants. He measures 160–200 cm (63–78.7 in) in total length, including a tail of 105–143 cm (41.3–56.3 in), and weighs 2.04–2.72 kg (4.5–6 lb). It has very long tail feathers. The male's most spectacular features are its huge, broad and greatly elongated secondary wing feathers decorated with large ocelli
Eyespot (mimicry)
An eyespot is an eye-like marking. They are found on butterflies, reptiles, birds and fish. In members of the Felidae family , the white circular markings on the backs of the ears are termed ocelli, and they are functionally similar to eyespots in other animals.Eyespots may be a form of...
. The female is smaller and duller than male, with shorter tails and less ocelli. She measures 72–76 cm (28.3–29.9 in) in total length, including a tail of 30–36 cm (11.8–14.2 in), and weighs 1.59–1.7 kg (3.5–3.7 lb). Young males attain adult plumage in their third year.
The Great Argus is distributed in the jungles of Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
, Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
and Malay Peninsula
Malay Peninsula
The Malay Peninsula or Thai-Malay Peninsula is a peninsula in Southeast Asia. The land mass runs approximately north-south and, at its terminus, is the southern-most point of the Asian mainland...
in southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. It feeds on forest floor in early morning and evening. Unusual among Galliformes
Galliformes
Galliformes are an order of heavy-bodied ground-feeding domestic or game bird, containing turkey, grouse, chicken, New and Old World Quail, ptarmigan, partridge, pheasant, and the Cracidae. Common names are gamefowl or gamebirds, landfowl, gallinaceous birds or galliforms...
, the Great Argus has no oil gland
Gland
A gland is an organ in an animal's body that synthesizes a substance for release of substances such as hormones or breast milk, often into the bloodstream or into cavities inside the body or its outer surface .- Types :...
and the hen lays only two eggs.
Though the Great Argus is not as colorful as other pheasant
Pheasant
Pheasants refer to some members of the Phasianinae subfamily of Phasianidae in the order Galliformes.Pheasants are characterised by strong sexual dimorphism, males being highly ornate with bright colours and adornments such as wattles and long tails. Males are usually larger than females and have...
s, its display surely ranks among the most remarkable. The male clears an open spot in the forest and prepares a dancing ground. He announces himself with loud calls to attract females, then he dances before her with his wings spread into two enormous fans, revealing hundred of "eyes" while his real eyes are hidden behind it, staring at her.
Despite displays similar to polygamous birds and though the Great Argus is thought to be polygamous in the wild, it is actually monogamous.
The scientific name of the Great Argus was given by Carolus Linnaeus
Carolus Linnaeus
Carl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
in reference to the many eyes-like pattern
Pattern
A pattern, from the French patron, is a type of theme of recurring events or objects, sometimes referred to as elements of a set of objects.These elements repeat in a predictable manner...
on its wings. Argus
Argus Panoptes
In Greek mythology, Argus Panoptes or Argos, guardian of the heifer-nymph Io and son of Arestor, was a primordial giant whose epithet "Panoptes", "all-seeing", led to his being described with multiple, often one hundred, eyes. The epithet Panoptes was applied to the Titan of the Sun, Helios, and...
is a hundred-eyed giant in Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
.
Due to ongoing habitat loss and hunted in some areas, the Great Argus is evaluated as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List
IUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...
. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES.