The phylogenetic relationships of the avian genus Crossoptilon were studied by comparing mitochondrial control region(D-loop)and cyt b gene nucleotide sequences,with the Lophophorus impejanus and Lophura swinhoii as the outgroups.Using the synthesizing characters of morphology,ecology and biogeography to combine with Maximum parsimony(MP),Maximum Likelihood(ML)and Bayesin trees,we found that:① C.crossoptilon and C.harmani were closely related and C.harmani was relatively primitive;② C.auritum and C.mantchuricum had a close relationship and C.auritum was relatively primitive;③ the genus Crossoptilon could originate in the boundary region of Sichuan,Yunnan and Tibet.One branch remained near the center of origin and diverged into C.crossoptilon and C.harmani;the other branch spread towards north China and diverged into C.auritum and C.mantchuricum.
The phylogeny of the monal pheasants (Lophophorus) and their relationships to some species of the genera Tragopan,Pucrasia and Ithaginis were studied by comparing mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) nucleotide sequences.The molecular phylogenetic trees show that:①the genus Tragopan and the genus Pucrasia share a common ancestor which is the sister taxon of the ancestor of the genus Lophophorus;②the genus Lophophorus had evolved into two branches:One was the Sclaters Monal;the other included the Chinese Monal and the Himalayan Monal.Considering its molecular phylogeny,distribution patterns and morphological evidences,the genus Lophophorus might originate in the Hengduan mountains region of southwestern China.
