# Lagopus > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Lagopus > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Lagopus.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagopus > Source revision: 1355384089 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Genus of birds}} {{Redirect|Ptarmigan}} {{Italic title}} {{Automatic taxobox | name = ''Lagopus'' | fossil_range = [Early Pliocene](/source/Early_Pliocene) to present | image = Ptarmigan.jpg | image_caption = | taxon = Lagopus | authority = [Brisson](/source/Mathurin_Jacques_Brisson), 1760 | type_species = ''[Tetrao lagopus](/source/Willow_ptarmigan)'' | type_species_authority = [Linnaeus](/source/Carl_Linnaeus), 1758 | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = ''See text'' }} '''''Lagopus''''' is a genus of [bird](/source/bird)s in the [grouse](/source/grouse) tribe commonly known as '''ptarmigans''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ɑːr|m|ᵻ|g|ən|z}}). The genus contains four living species with numerous described subspecies, all living in [tundra](/source/tundra) or cold upland areas. ==Taxonomy and etymology== The [genus](/source/genus) ''Lagopus'' was introduced by the French zoologist [Mathurin Jacques Brisson](/source/Mathurin_Jacques_Brisson) in 1760 with the [willow ptarmigan](/source/willow_ptarmigan) (''Lagopus lagopus'') as the [type species](/source/type_species).{{ cite book | last=Brisson | first=Mathurin Jacques | author-link=Mathurin Jacques Brisson | year=1760 | title=Ornithologie, ou, Méthode Contenant la Division des Oiseaux en Ordres, Sections, Genres, Especes & leurs Variétés | language=fr, la | at=[https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/36010422 Vol. 1, p. 26], [https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/36010653 Vol. 1, p. 181] | place=Paris | publisher=Jean-Baptiste Bauche }}{{ cite book | editor-last=Peters | editor-first=James Lee | editor-link=James L. Peters | year=1934 | title=Check-list of Birds of the World | volume=2 | publisher=Harvard University Press | place=Cambridge, Massachusetts | page=29 | url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14482842 }} The genus name ''Lagopus'' is derived from [Ancient Greek](/source/Ancient_Greek) {{lang|grc-Latn|lagos}} ({{lang|grc|λαγος}}), meaning "[hare](/source/hare), [rabbit](/source/rabbit)", + {{lang|grc-Latn|pous}} ({{lang|grc|πους}}), "foot", in reference to the feathered feet and toes typical of this cold-adapted group (such as the [snowshoe hare](/source/snowshoe_hare)). The [specific epithets](/source/Specific_name_(zoology)) ''muta'' and ''leucura'' were for a long time misspelt ''mutus'' and ''leucurus'', in the erroneous belief that the ending of ''Lagopus'' denotes [masculine gender](/source/grammatical_gender). However, as the Ancient Greek term {{lang|grc|λαγωπους}} is of feminine gender, and the specific epithet has to agree with that, the feminine ''muta'' and ''leucura'' are correct.{{ cite journal | last1=David | first1=Normand | last2=Gosselin | first2=Michel | year=2002 | title=The grammatical gender of avian genera | journal=Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club | volume=122 | issue=4 | pages=257–282 [258, 279]| url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40416637 }} The English name ''ptarmigan'' comes from the [Scottish Gaelic](/source/Scottish_Gaelic) name for [''L. muta''](/source/rock_ptarmigan), {{lang|gd|tarmachan}} ({{IPA|gd|'t̪ʰaɾaməxan}}), meaning “croaker”, which refers to the bird’s frog-like call. The p- was added due to a mistaken belief in a Greek origin, as if the word were related to the Greek word {{lang|grc|πτερόν}} (''pterón''), 'wing'.Lockwood, W. B. (1984). ''The Oxford Book of British Bird Names''. Oxford University Press {{ISBN|0-19-214155-4}}. ==Description== thumb|left|Egg of a Lagopus The four species are all sedentary specialists of cold regions. Willow ptarmigan is a circumpolar [boreal forest](/source/Taiga) species, white-tailed ptarmigan is a North American [alpine](/source/Alpine_climate) bird, and rock ptarmigan breeds in both [Arctic](/source/Arctic) and mountain habitats across [Eurasia](/source/Eurasia) and North America. With the exception of the red grouse (until recently considered a subspecies of willow ptarmigan),{{ cite journal | last1=Sangster | first1=George | last2= Collinson | first2= J. Martin | last3=Kirwan | first3=Guy M. | last4=Knox | first4=Alan G. | last5=McMahon | first5= Barry J. | last6=Parkin | first6=David | last7=Schweizer | first7=Manuel | last8=Huglund | first8=Jacob | year=2022 | title=The taxonomic status of Red Grouse | journal=British Birds | volume=115 | pages=28–38 | url=https://britishbirds.co.uk/journal/article/taxonomic-status-red-grouse}} all have a white winter plumage that helps them blend into the snowy background. Even their [remiges](/source/Flight_feather) are white, while these feathers are black in almost all birds (even those that are predominantly white, such as the [Bali myna](/source/Bali_starling)) because [melanin](/source/melanin) makes them more resilient and thus improves flight performance. The ''Lagopus'' grouse apparently found it easier to escape [predator](/source/Predation)s by not being seen than by flying away.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}} These are hardy vegetarian birds, but [insect](/source/insect)s are also taken by the developing young. In all species except for the willow ptarmigan, the female takes all responsibility for nesting and caring for the chicks, as is typical with [gamebirds](/source/Game_(food)). {{Clear|left}} ==Species== [[File:Lagopus lagopus scotica (red grouse).jpg|thumb|alt=|The [red grouse](/source/red_grouse) (''Lagopus scotica''), native to the [British Isles](/source/British_Isles), was formerly considered as a [subspecies](/source/subspecies) of the [willow ptarmigan](/source/willow_ptarmigan)]] The genus contains four species:{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela Rasmussen | date=August 2024 | title=Pheasants, partridges, francolins | work=IOC World Bird List Version 14.2 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/bow/pheasants/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | access-date=29 August 2024}} {| class="wikitable" border="1" ! align="center" style="background-color: #D3D3A4" colspan ="4" |Living species of ''Lagopus'' |- ! |Common and scientific names ! Image ! align="center" |Description ! |Range and status |- |[Willow ptarmigan](/source/Willow_ptarmigan) (also willow grouse)
''Lagopus lagopus''
(Linnaeus, 1758) |500x195px|center|alt=Willow ptarmigan |Summer: marbled brown and reddish with black tail and white underparts; winter: most subspecies have white plumage except for black tail. |10–20 subspecies. Circumarctic range in forest and moorlands of northern Eurasia and North America. Status: Least Concern. |- |[Red grouse](/source/Red_grouse)
''Lagopus scotica''
([Latham](/source/John_Latham_(ornithologist)), 1787) |500x195px|center|alt=Red grouse |Reddish brown with black tail all year round |Monotypic. [Great Britain](/source/Great_Britain) and [Ireland](/source/Ireland) |- |[Rock ptarmigan](/source/Rock_ptarmigan)
''Lagopus muta''
(Montin, 1781) |500x185px|center|alt=Rock ptarmigan |Summer: grey and brown upperparts; winter: white plumage. Distinguish from willow ptarmigan by habitat – higher elevations and more barren ground. |20–30 subspecies. Arctic and subarctic Eurasia and North America on rocky mountainsides and tundra. Status: Least Concern. |- |[White-tailed ptarmigan](/source/White-tailed_ptarmigan)
''Lagopus leucura''
(Richardson, 1831) |500x160px|center|alt=White-tailed ptarmigan |Summer: greyish-brown and speckled; winter: white plumage. Males identifiable by reddish eyecombs. The smallest ptarmigan. |Alpine areas above the timberline in North America from Alaska and western Canada to New Mexico. Status: Least Concern. |} ===Fossil record=== Two [prehistoric](/source/Prehistory) species and two [paleosubspecies](/source/Chronospecies) are only known from [fossil](/source/fossil)s: * ''Lagopus atavus'' Jánossy, 1974 ([Early Pliocene](/source/Zanclean) of [Bulgaria](/source/Bulgaria)? - [Late Pliocene](/source/Piacenzian)) * ''Lagopus balcanicus'' Boev, 1995 (Late Pliocene of [Varshets](/source/Varshets), Bulgaria)Boev, Z. 1995. "Middle Villafranchian birds from Varshets (Western Balkan Range - Bulgaria)". In: Peters, D. (ed.). ''Acta palaeornithologica''. 3. Symposium SAPE. 5. Internat. Senckenberg-Konferenz 22–26 Juni 1992. - Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg. Frankfurt a. M., 181: 259-269. * ''Lagopus lagopus noaillensis'' Mourer-Chauviré, 1975 ([Pleistocene](/source/Pleistocene) of [W Europe](/source/Western_Europe)) * ''Lagopus muta correzensis'' Mourer-Chauviré, 1975 (Pleistocene of W Europe) ==References== {{Reflist}} * Madge, Steve; McGowan, Philip J. K. & Kirwan, Guy M. (2002): ''Pheasants, partidges and grouse: a guide to the pheasants, partridges, quails, grouse, guineafowl, buttonquails and sandgrouse of the world''. [Christopher Helm](/source/Helm_Identification_Guides), London. {{ISBN|0-7136-3966-0}}. == External links == * {{Commons category inline}} {{Pangalliformes|Pha.|state=collapsed}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q162029}} Category:Lagopus Category:Bird genera Category:Provincial symbols of Newfoundland and Labrador --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lagopus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagopus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagopus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.