| Chinese monal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Captive maleL. lhuysii | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Galliformes |
| Family: | Phasianidae |
| Genus: | Lophophorus |
| Species: | L. lhuysii |
| Binomial name | |
| Lophophorus lhuysii | |
TheChinese monal orChinese impeyan (Lophophorus lhuysii) is apheasant. This monal is restricted to mountains of centralChina. The plumage is highlyiridescent. The male has a large drooping purple crest, a metallic green head, blue bare skin around the eyes, a reddish gold mantle, bluish green feathers and black underparts. The female is dark brown with white on its throat.
This is the largest of the threemonals and, by mass, is one of the largest pheasants (after theturkeys and thegreen andIndian peafowls). Males measure 76–80 cm (30–31 in) in length while females measure 72–75 cm (28–30 in). The mean weight is reportedly 3.18 kg (7.0 lb).[3]
The scientific name,lhuysii, commemorates the French statesmanÉdouard Drouyn de Lhuys.[4]
Due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation, limited range and illegal hunting, the Chinese monal is evaluated asvulnerable onIUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix I ofCITES.
London Zoo andBeijing Zoo have kept Chinese monal but all attempts to establish a captive breeding population failed.
