Tetrao

Tetrao is a genus of birds in the grouse subfamily known as capercaillies. They are some of the largest living grouse.

Tetrao
Temporal range: Early Pliocene to recent
Western capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Subfamily: Tetraoninae
Genus: Tetrao
Linnaeus, 1758
Species

Tetrao urogalloides
Tetrao urogallus

Species

There are two extant species:

ImageScientific nameCommon NameDistribution
Tetrao urogallusWestern capercaillieEurope to western Russia
Tetrao urogalloidesBlack-billed capercaillieeastern Russia as well as parts of northern Mongolia and China

The fossil record of this genus is extensive:

  • Tetrao conjugens (Early Pliocene of C Europe)
  • Tetrao rhodopensis (Early Pliocene of Dorkovo, Bulgaria)
  • Tetrao partium (Early Pliocene - Early Pleistocene of SE Europe)
  • Tetrao macropus (Late Pliocene - Early Pleistocene of Hungary)
  • Tetrao praeurogallus (Early - Middle Pleistocene of E Europe)

References


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