#plioperdix

By Scott Reid 

Etymology: Partridge from the Pliocene

First Described By: Kretzoi, 1955

Classification: Dinosauromorpha, Dinosauriformes, Dracohors, Dinosauria, Saurischia, Eusaurischia, Theropoda, Neotheropoda, Averostra, Tetanurae, Orionides, Avetheropoda, Coelurosauria, Tyrannoraptora, Maniraptoromorpha, Maniraptoriformes, Maniraptora, Pennaraptora, Paraves, Eumaniraptora, Averaptora, Avialae, Euavialae, Avebrevicauda, Pygostaylia, Ornithothoraces, Euornithes, Ornithuromorpha, Ornithurae, Neornithes, Neognathae, Galloanserae, Pangalliformes, Galliformes, Phasiani, Phasianidae

Referred Species: P. ponticus, P. hungarica, P. africana

Status: Extinct

Time and Place: Between 8.7 and 3 million years ago, from the Tortonian of the Miocene through the Piacenzian of the Pliocene, all in the Neogene

Plioperdix is known from the Chikoi Formation of Buryatia & Northern Mongolia; isolated localities in Moldova and Ukraine; locations in Morocco; and the Morskaya-2 Locality in the Rostovskaya Oblast. Range shown below approximate. 

Physical Description: Plioperdix was a small, round partridge, similar to ones today! However, it isn’t known from a lot of fossil material; mostly parts of the feet and other limbs. It would have been a medium-sized pheasant, similar to the modern partridge and Blood Pheasant. It had a fairly curved, long legs, at least compared to other partridges. Weirdly enough, its toes were more closely packed together than those of its relatives. Overall, it was a small partridge, similar to its relatives, but still a little bit weird at the end of the day.

Diet: Like in other partridges, Plioperdix probably fed mainly on seeds and other grains.

Behavior: Though little is known about the behavior of Plioperdix, it probably would have behaved much like modern partridges - walking around slowly, bobbing its head, and moving in together in groups to find food. It probably also would have taken care of its young, and been a fairly social sort of bird.

Ecosystem: Plioperdix lived in the grasslands of Eurasia as they began to spread along the continent; in at least one environment, it lived alongside a variety of rodents, lizards, snakes, hoofed mammals, and even an extinct genus of Hyena, which would have been a major pain in the ass for Plioperdix.  

Other: Plioperdix is known from a very large range in Afroeurasia and may be more of a genus of convenience than anything else.

Species Differences: P. hungarica is known from the Miocene rather than the Pliocene; P. ponticus is known from the Pliocene of Eurasia; and P. africana is known from the Pliocene of Morocco.

~ By Meig Dickson

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